Israeli Goods Labelling

The labelling of food products is governed by both UK and EU law and serves the purpose of giving clear and complete information to consumers, to allow the customer to exercise choice.

Phyllis Starkey the UK Labour MP stated in her Westminster Hall debate

“The official position of the British Government is absolutely clear: Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem and the west bank, plus those in occupied Syrian territory, are illegal under international law and are an obstacle to peace. For many years, agricultural produce was deliberately mislabelled by the Israeli authorities as "made in Israel" and exported to the European Union under the EU-Israel trade agreement, thus benefiting from the trade preference and avoiding import duty. ”

Miss Starkey then added “produce is commonly labelled "West Bank”

“Jordan Valley”, but both those descriptions could apply either to goods produced by Palestinians on Palestinian land, or to goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements, and the consumer has no way of knowing which. Significant numbers of British consumers wish to avoid buying produce from illegal settlements.”

Her point seems clear enough as there is some confusion with the produce coming from Israel which needs clarity.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by The Times, in London as saying "It looks like the guidance is catering to the demands of those whose ultimate goal is the boycott of Israeli products."

Surely we must all agree that detailed labelling is important for consumers. Traders and retailers also have a voice that needs to be heard, they are part of the world economy.

I personally would want the choice over who I gave money to depending on my political morals. I recall back in the 80s how teens boycotted buying music records of pop stars that played the famous Sun City Stadium in South Africa and we never ate their oranges, we hated apartheid and we voted with our feet, taste buds and conscience.

There was a debate about this issue on BBC radio 4 last week and an Israeli spokesman pointed out that consumers in the UK will surely avoid buying goods from the Israeli Settlements. The presenter then asked him why was he so sure that people would avoid giving the Israeli farmers money, the bloke just said “People are angry I suppose but they don’t know the whole picture”

People in the UK are aware of the whole picture, some of them just don’t agree with what they are looking at and have the right to chose not to financially support it.

There is a positive side that the Israeli Minister is missing, there could be an upsurge in produce as more people who support Israel buy selectively, and sales might actually increase, though they aren’t willing to take that chance. When this theory was put to the Israeli Spokesperson by the radio presenter, he merely grumbled and said that it would be bad news all round for the economy in Israel.

A Palestinian spokesman wasn’t on the news; maybe they didn’t have any issue with the new labelling. Who knows?

The might of anger against the Israeli Settlements from across the globe mean not a jot to the people who take the land from the Palestinians, maybe people in the UK using the pound in their pocket to show their distaste could have an effect.

If the Israeli economy suffers due to the lack of sales, maybe that just may indicate just how the people of the UK feel about the settlements and bring some attention to the folk who work the land in Israel.

It can only be better than bomb, bricks and death being used to force their conscience can’t it?