Israel Suspends Contact With EU Representatives Over West Bank Labelling Dispute

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

By: Ian Deitch The Associated Press, Published on Sun Nov 29 2015

JERUSALEM—Israel on Sunday suspended contacts with European Union representatives on Mideast peace issues to protest the 28-nation bloc’s decision to label Israeli exports from the West Bank.

The decision, which deepened a fissure with the EU over the labelling issue, came as a rash of Palestinian attacks showed no signs of relenting. In Sunday’s violence, Palestinians carried out two new stabbing attacks — wounding a woman and a police officer. One of the assailants was shot dead.

Israel has been up in arms since the EU announced this month that goods produced in Israeli settlements must have special labels and cannot say they were made in Israel. Israel has said the decision is discriminatory and unfairly singles out Israel, while the EU says it is a technical matter to clarify the origins of the products.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced late Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered contacts frozen until a “reassessment process is completed.”


Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/11/29/israel-suspends-contact-with-eu-representatives-over-west-bank-labelling-dispute.html

[McKim]

1. Israel Turning in On Itself Instead of Listening to the World

Israel seems to be getting tougher and tougher and turning in on itself instead of getting the message about human rights. The EU and many around the world are hoping for a better Israel that acts with more compassion and solves its conflicts in new ways. This country needs a new peaceful path. The super aggressive stance and extremism are backing Israel into a corner with no escape. Real friends of Israel urge it towards a better human rights record.

Someday it will be a bilingual bicultural country with equal rights for all, but maybe not in my lifetime. Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions are sending a message, but will Israel listen? Or will it continue on this self destructive path? I feel bad for both factions. Israelis came there to feel safe and they are not safe. Palestinians just want to live there too and they can't, they are shoved out and corraled and harrased. This is not sustainable.

[StoneCarver]

2. It takes time

Look how long it took for S. Africa? As Jimmy Carter said it first, "Israel is an apartheid state". It will eventually come to it's senses. The world is watching.
Stonecarver

[Mosby]

3. Jimmy Carter said nothing of the sort

He said:

I know that Israel is a wonderful democracy with equal treatment of all citizens whether Arab or Jew....

At no point in time has President Carter said that he thinks Israel is practicing apartheid.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/carters-rhetoric-of-apartheid/?_r=0

[Bernin]

4. You sure about that?

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said in remarks broadcast Monday that Israeli policy in the West Bank represented instances of apartheid worse even that those that once held sway in South Africa





http://www.haaretz.com/news/jimmy-carter-israel-s-apartheid-policies-worse-than-south-africa-s-1.206865

[Mosby]

5. The west bank isn't israel.

And Israel's activities in the west bank are governed by agreements signed by the palestinians.

[Bernin]

6. Hmmm.

I thought Israel was building Israeli only settlements in the west bank?

Am I misinformed?

[Jesus Malverde]

7. bump...nt

[Attorney in Texas]

8. After Netanyahu's blatant interference in our 2014 elections, we need to find someone else in Israel

to direct our outreach toward.

I'd like to see us adopt or debate adoption of the EU labeling with the option of revisiting that labeling policy based on cooperation with our longstanding demands about settlements in the occupied territories.