Israel ends export to EU of settler dairy, poultry produce

[Jefferson23]

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel was to end its export of poultry and dairy produce to the European Union from settlements considered illegal by the international community, Israeli and European officials said on Sunday.

The restrictions stem from directives issued by the European Commission in February and affect chicken and milk products from settlements in East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the occupied West Bank.

"In keeping with previous decisions, the EU no longer recognized the authority of the veterinary inspections services of Israel to approve the export of poultry and (dairy products), the origin of which are in settlements," a European official told AFP.

The official said that during discussions over implementation of the directives, the "Israelis were asked to put in place a system of distinguishing between the origins of dairy products and poultry."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=721308

[Jefferson23]

1. FAO: Damage to Gaza agriculture will have long-lasting effects

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization on Thursday warned that the Israeli assault on Gaza had caused extensive damage to the coastal enclave's agricultural sector and would have long-term consequences.

The FAO said in a statement that the five-week assault had "forced farmers and herders to abandon their lands and has paralyzed fishing activities, bringing local food production to a halt and severely affecting livelihoods."

"The recent fighting has resulted in substantial direct damage to Gaza's 17,000 hectares of croplands as well as much of its agricultural infrastructure, including greenhouses, irrigation systems, animal farms, fodder stocks and fishing boats," the statement continued.

The report added that Gaza had lost half of its poultry in the attack, "either due to direct hits on their shelters or lack of water, feed or care resulting from access restrictions."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=720808

[4now]

2. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement is getting bigger everyday.

End Israeli apartheid:
Boycott, Divest, Sanction.
http://www.bdsmovement.net/

[BillZBubb]

3. Well the symbolism is good, although the Israelis will get around the ban.

Hopefully, more and more sanctions like this will come on board.

[Israeli]

4. I posted about this already Jefferson....

...but it was a long thread and you might of missed it ....

Ref :
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=77379

The follow up post I made was much more interesting I thought .

So I will re-post it here for you :

More on the dairy products ............

Summary : Not only did Israel lose its deterrence edge against Hamas, it also severely exposed its frayed ties with the US and the international community and faces a more comprehensive European boycott of settlement products.

Extracts : ....

One other, equally important topic is the European boycott. When Obama started his second term, I reported here the modus operandi that was planned for the diplomatic process. As it turns out, the Americans and Europeans entertained the possibility that the diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians would derail. That assessment came true. The plan was then to take measures — led by the Europeans — to harm Israel, including implementing economic boycotts in certain areas.

The current European boycott on dairy products originating from farms or dairies beyond the Green Line (including the Golan Heights) is such a premeditated and calculated move. At this stage, the United States cannot boycott Israel. Such an act would be tantamount to declaring war and bluntly abolishing the strategic ties between the two countries. This is why Obama is doing what he did during the crisis in Libya — leading from behind.

Al-Monitor learned, some 18 months ago, that the European boycott was devised together with the United States. In this affair, the Europeans play the role of the “bad guys,” realizing the fantasy of the Obama administration. They were the ones chosen to hurt Israel. For his part, Obama will say that he is powerless to help. This is how the noose around Israel’s neck will be tightened, to the point of seriously damaging its economy.

At the moment, the boycott applies only to dairy and livestock products. The next stage will apparently apply to fruits and vegetables, the poultry industry and possibly even the wine industry. Although the damage to the Israeli economy is not significant at this point, the precedent, however, is very significant. For the first time, the Europeans are not talking about “labeling” products from the settlements. In fact, they’ve stopped mincing words. In a broad and sweeping move, they are simply stopping the import of products manufactured beyond the Green Line even if they contain only one ingredient that originates from there.

The European boycott is already here. And unlike the impression Israel is trying to make, this is not an anti-Semitic move, but purely a political one. It was planned by Israel’s greatest friends — the United States and Europe — in order to apply pressure on Netanyahu government’s settlement policy.

Given this state of affairs, it seems to me that dealing with anti-Semitism would actually be preferable. At least in that case, Israel has something to say to counter baseless hatred. Yet when it comes to boycotting the settlements, Israel has a lot less to say.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/08/protective-edge-gaza-hamas-idf-kerry-1.html#ixzz3B16Y33wt

[Jefferson23]

5. Thank you for for the post. Yes, there was a report in Harretz at the time, if I recall

correctly, it was not printed in their English edition. The EU rep pretty much told
Israel, if you decide not to negotiate and agree to the Kerry plan Israel will
see a very different opposition and the respondent then gasped at what they
were told would follow. That seems to be coming to light, and it makes sense
that pressure has to come from a deeper place for anything to move forward.

This of course took place before the endless settlement announcements and
then the Kerry proclamation of "poof". Sadly, the arrangement at the time
that Abbas was willing to agree to would not have provided a viable state,
it favored Israel heavily..that is one reason we saw warning red flags months ago.

I believe Peter was utilizing information months ago from Finkelstein and others
who were observing the negotiations at the time when he wrote this important
OP:
Why John Kerry’s peace mission should worry liberal Zionists
There’s mounting evidence that Kerry is pushing a framework that gives Palestinians
less than they were offered by Bill Clinton and Ehud Olmert.

By Peter Beinart | Mar. 12, 2014 |
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.579441

Now that Abbas appears to be willing to use the UN and depending on the accuracy of all
factions agreeing to back a bid to join the ICC, we'll see if any of this will help
them achieve their rights once and for all. No doubt, Abbas will receive a lot of pressure
from the US/EU to not follow through..too soon to speculate on more than that since
there is a looming cease fire but no finality to the hostilities yet.