Israel Condemns Norway Labeling Decision

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – Israel has denounced Norway’s decision to label products from Yehuda and Shomron with their place of origin, according to the AFP on Sunday.

A statement from Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the position “will adversely affect bilateral relations between Israel and Norway, as well as Norway’s relevance to promoting relations between Israel and the Palestinians.”

The reference was to Norway’s longstanding role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Norway’s Social Democrat government announced its new policy on June 10, saying it was not enough to label products coming from the territories as Israeli.

The measure mainly affects imports of wine, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, and will apply to products from “east Jerusalem” and the Golan Heights, as well, Oslo said.

Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt stressed in an interview with Norwegian news agency NTB that this should not be construed as a boycott of Israel.

“Norway has good relations with Israel,” she said. “That must continue.”

The European Commission recommended the labeling practice in 2015, but did not require it.

During the Trump administration, the United States said that goods made outside the Green Line could be labeled as Made in Israel.