European chains ask Israeli farmers to label settlement products

Food marketing chains in Germany and the Netherlands have asked farmers in Israel to label settlement products exported to Europe.

Israeli Radio today reported that “Israeli farmers in the Jordan Valley stated that the large food chains in Germany and the Netherlands have asked them to label their goods exported to Europe as coming from the occupied territories, as of the middle of this month.”

David Elchaiiani, head of the Jordan Valley regional council, told the radio that “the European demand stems from anti-Semitism and aims to put a label of shame on farmers, labelling them as occupiers and confiscators of land.”

Israeli Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, commented on the decision, saying it “harms the Palestinians first and foremost, as it may lead to firing Palestinian workers.”

The European Commission adopted a decision in November 2015 to label Israeli settlement goods after weeks of internal deliberations and Israeli efforts to prevent the decision.

According to the decision, special labels will be put on goods produced in settlements that are exported to European markets.