The European Union is reportedly preparing new guidelines that would require Israel to label products made in its West Bank settlements if they are exported to Europe.
According to a report by the 'Associated Press', which quotes unnamed EU officials, the bloc's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, told the 28 EU foreign ministers last month that work was underway to establish a set of guidelines, and that this would be "finalized in the near future." The officials spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because they were discussing internal EU affairs.
While the work is expected to take several months, it is the latest sign of international discontent with Israeli construction of settlements on the disputed lands in the West Bank, which was occupied by Israel in the June 1967 Six Day War. It also comes at a time when movement spromoting boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel are gaining steam.
EU opposition to the settlements is not new. A free trade agreement with Israel already excludes settlement goods, even if they say they were made in Israel. Likewise, Israel is barred from spending money it receives under a technology-sharing pact in the West Bank or east Jerusalem. Several European countries have approved voluntary labeling guidelines for settlement products.
The new guidelines would take things further by requiring Israeli exporters to explicitly label products as being made in the settlements - a potential stigma that could deter consumers from buying them. The EU began work on labeling guidelines in 2012, but appears to have decided to revive that effort following the formation of Israel's new hard-line government.
