World Jewish Congress dismayed at Irish Government’s suggestion of EU ban on Israeli goods from West Bank
NEW YORK – The head of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) has reacted with dismay at the suggestion by Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore last week to impose a European Union import ban on products made in Israeli communities in the disputed West Bank, which Gilmore said were “illegal” and made peace between Israel and the Palestinians “impossible”. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said in reaction: “Such boycott calls are cynical and hypocritical. Minister Gilmore is taking aim at the only liberal democracy in the Middle East while keeping quiet about those who really wreak havoc in the region: the Assads, Ahmadinejads and their allies Hezbollah and Hamas.” Lauder added that “the West Bank territories are legally disputed and not illegally occupied.”
“Minister Gilmore’s remarks show that some European leaders would like to see Israel being coerced into making unilateral concessions,” the WJC president said. Lauder highlighted the fact that Israelis and Palestinians had both signed binding agreements for contentious issues such as settlements and borders to be decided in a final status peace agreement. Israel’s continued presence in what is called Area C of the West Bank, pending the outcome of permanent status negotiations, enjoyed the official sanction of the PLO, Lauder pointed out.
He said it was therefore grossly misleading to constantly refer to Israeli settlements as being located in the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’. “Neither the United Nations nor the European Union have ever legally demarcated what will be part of the Palestinian state and what will be part of Israel. Nor should they: The final borders must be negotiated by the two parties concerned.”
The WJC president also criticized plans by several countries including South Africa and Denmark for the special labeling of Israeli products made in the West Bank. Lauder said this would adversely affect thousands of Palestinian workers employed by Israeli manufacturers in the area. “Instead of encouraging economic cooperation, certain governments seem eager to jump on the bandwagon of the global anti-Israel movement in an effort to pander to their electorates. However, they should realize that by doing so, they are making things worse, not better,” Lauder declared.
About the World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.
