Israel slams France for implementing settlement labeling regiment
“The Government of Israel condemns the french government decision to implement European Commission directives regarding Israel products originating beyond the Green Line."
By HERB KEINONUpdated: NOVEMBER 28, 2016 12:35A demonstrator wears a shirt reading 'Boycott Israel' [File](photo credit: AFP/ MOHD RASFAN)
Israel lashed out on Thursday night at a new French regulation mandating the labeling of products made in West Bank settlements, saying it was troubling that Paris opted to single Israel out, and ignore 200 other territorial conflicts around the world.“The Government of Israel condemns the french government decision to implement European Commission directives regarding Israel products originating beyond the Green Line,” a Foreign Ministry statement read.“We are saddened that it is France – where there is a law against boycotts – that is moving forward with these steps that could be interpreted as giving support to radical elements and to the boycott movement against Israel,” the statement read.Moreover, the statement continued, Jerusalem was surprised and troubled that France was using a double standard toward Israel, while ignoring hundreds of other territorial conflicts, including those happening “right on its doorstep.”Under the new French regulation, in accordance with guidelines on the matter issued by the European Commission in 2015, products from the settlements must be labelled as such, and not as “Made in Israel.”The EU's adoption of these guidelines last year infuriated Israel, and led it to suspend diplomatic contacts with the EU regarding the Mideast diplomatic process.EU's ambassador to Israel Lars Faaborg-Andersen said Wednesday at the Jerusalem Post's Diplomatic Conference that products from the settlements made up just a miniscule amount of Israel's overall trade with the EU.