Abbas urges African nations to label settlement products

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has urged African Union member states to boycott goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank by following the same labelling programme currently being reviewed by the European Union.

Speaking at the 25th African Union assembly in the South African city of Johannesburg, Abbas said the labelling programme will raise consumer awareness.

“We must boycott the settlements which were established on Arab land, contrary to international law and resolutions,” Abbas is reported to have said.

Abbas stressed that any initiatives to resume peace talks with Israel must be in accordance with international resolutions and within a specific timeframe to end the Israeli occupation.