EU Official To Knesset: Labeling Products a Mistake

YERUSHALAYIM

Another sign of dissension in the European Union over its anti-Israel labeling policy surfaced on Tuesday as an EU official told the Knesset the decision was a mistake.

European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Israel chairman Fulvio Martusciello made the statement during a visit to Israel’s parliament on Tuesday.

“The decision to label products was a mistake,” the Italian MEP said. “Europe is loud about Israel, but quiet about 200 other conflicts around the world,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

Martusciello added that many EU members have their doubts about the labeling decision.

The labeling is not mandatory, however, and MEP Marijana Petir of Croatia said that her country will not go along.

“We will not boycott Israeli goods,” she said.

On Monday, the Hungarian Foreign Minister declared that his country would not implement the guidelines, which call for labeling of products from Yehuda and Shomron, the Golan Heights and eastern Yerushalayim. Prior to that, German chancellor Angela Merkel’s party came out against it.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein warned: “If this decision leads factories to shut down, it will increase unemployment and despair on the Palestinian side, and the way from there to terrorism is short.”

The head of the ­Knesset’s delegation for relations with the European Parliament MK Yaakov Peri (Yesh Atid) called the labeling directive “shameful, patronizing, mistaken, and inspired by [the boycott, divest and sanctions movement].”

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!