European FMs urge policy chief: Label West Bank settlement products

[geek tragedy]

"European consumers must indeed have confidence in knowing the origin of goods they are purchasing," the ministers write. "Green Line Israel and Palestinian producers will benefit from this."

The effort to advance EU guidelines for labeling settlement products across the continent began several years ago. In April 2103, the foreign ministers of 13 EU countries sent a similar letter to Mogherini's predecessor, Catherine Ashton. She began pushing the initiative forward, but put it on hold in the summer of 2013 at the request of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who was trying to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Since the breakdown of talks between Israelis and Palestinians in March 2014 and the diplomatic stalemate that followed, additional countries have joined the effort to label settlement goods. In recent months, the European countries avoided pressing ahead with the measure so as not to appear to be interfering in Israeli elections.

European diplomats pointed out that now, after the election, and in light of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks opposing a two-state solution, they decided to renew their effort. "We would welcome you taking the lead in the Commission, in order to complete this important work on labeling of settlement produce/products," the letter states. "We remain of course ready to assist you in doing so."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.652113

Elections have consequences.

[geek tragedy]

1. Yair Lapid (remember him?) is throwing a hissy fit over this.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Lapid-to-Mogherini-EU-foreign-ministers-are-calling-for-a-de-facto-boycott-of-Israel-398385

“This is a de-facto call to boycott Israel,” he said. “There is no difference between products which are produced over the Green Line and those that are produced within the Green Line.

“This is an irresponsible call that could create wreak havoc on the Israeli economy. This kind of call is a stain on the EU, and the state of Israel has to fight to prevent this kind of initiative,” he said.

[Jefferson23]

2. Because most of their lawmakers think the same when it comes to the Palestinians. n/t

[geek tragedy]

3. they really do fear accountability more than they fear the Palestinians nt