Europe threatens to declare an embargo on goods produced in illegal Jewish settlements

It looks like patience of a united Europe was over. Brussels is going to boycott Israel. Although, to be precise, not a Jewish state of Israel and the illegal settlements that are on Tel Aviv occupied land Palestinians and not recognized either by the international community in general, nor the European Union in particular.

With the illegal settlers in the united Europe have decided to fight the euro, that is through economic measures. It is known that the settlers living in the Palestinian territories, often write on their products and goods: Made in Israel, thereby misleading consumers. The European Union has decided to put this wrong, the deep conviction of European officials, the practice to an end.

The international community has never recognized Israeli sovereignty over the captured by the Six Day War in 1967 the Palestinian territories. Geneva Convention considers illegal all settlements established in the occupied territories. However, Israeli government is not only not forbidden, but also to encourage the construction of more and more settlements. Their population is growing rapidly: in 1993, the settlers were 111,600 people, now more than 325 thousand in the West Bank, and 200 thousand in East Jerusalem.

A course of confrontation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently showed once again that the opinion of the international community and international law for Israel means nothing.

"The days when the bulldozers settlements compared with the ground, the past," - he said in an interview Ezhednevnik Maariv, alluding to a brief struggle with illegal settlements in court and attempts to drift.

On January 22 Israel held parliamentary elections. It has now created a new coalition government, which again led by Netanyahu. Despite the fact that the coalition will include the Liberal Party, will be in it and the politicians representing the settlers. This means that the count of the fact that now dwells in a lethargic sleep peace process resumed, however.

This is clearly understood in Brussels. The election results have forced the European Union to develop a plan that will inevitably lead to strained relations with Tel Aviv. Central to it are allocated to settlements. At the December meeting of EU foreign ministers was repeated commitment Union EU policies in relation to goods and products made in the settlements.

Translated from the diplomatic language, this means that the EU is preparing to prohibit in their territories the implementation of the goods of the settlers. Cold comfort to Israel's second option: the boycott of those products which mislead consumers by claiming that they are made in Israel.

Whack

Embargo on goods from settlements are likely to have serious consequences for the Israeli economy. Suffice it to say that every year, the settlers exported to Europe of goods and products for 220 million euros. A lot or a little, can be clearly seen in comparison with the export of Palestinian goods to the EU, which is only 15 million euros.

Europe is the largest trading partner of Israel, accounting for almost 20% of Israeli exports. According to estimates of the Palestinian side, the West Bank, especially in the fertile Jordan Valley grown to 40% of plants, 50% of the grapes and 40% of dates exported by Israel.

Despite the overt resentment of Tel Aviv, Brussels has launched a mechanism embargo. Employees of the European External Action Service (EEAS) carefully peruse the entire European legislation in search of laws and regulations that may be referenced by announcing a boycott of goods produced in the settlements. This work is at an end. We already know that the black list will mainly food. This is not surprising when you consider that the West Bank is an oasis in the Middle East.

Barriers to embargo

Of course, the main obstacle to the implementation of such a boycott - determination of origin. Now all EU countries buy Israeli goods, content information of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of Israel and Israeli exporters, when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Of course, with the passage of the embargo of the practice have to give.

In Brussels believe that the field is now often turn a blind eye to the fact that Israeli goods produced in the illegally occupied territories. In the most difficult situation the German authorities, who try if possible to avoid anything that might remind of campaigns Nazis, who demanded that the Germans not to buy products made by Jews.

By the way, in Israel, willingly and often use this argument to put pressure on its allies as they sharply criticized Tel Aviv for intransigence on the issue of settlements.

Israel responded to the plans of Brussels, not surprisingly, extremely negative. Israeli embassy in Berlin, for example, stated that the territorial disputes are raging around the world. Therefore draws the attention on Israel is discrimination and anti-Semitism.

Many in Israel are still hoping that the case before the embargo is still not come - very radical measure - and that the most that will Brussels, it would force the settlers to indicate on the labels of their products are not "Israel" and the "West Bank" .

Interestingly, when in May 2012 it is proposed to South Africa, the Israeli Foreign Ministry immediately branded the proposal a "racist."

How did he react to the EU embargo, if it will still be accepted, to be seen. Come soon. In April, to be held the first visit of Barack Obama to Israel. Obviously, the adoption of an embargo Europe will depend on the outcome of the visit - whether he can persuade Israel not to build in the occupied lands new home.