Roundup: Palestinians welcome EU guidelines for labelling Israeli settlements products

The Palestinians welcomed on Thursday the approval of the European Union (EU) of labelling the products from Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in an emailed press statement that "the PLO welcomed the EU Commission's adoption of guidelines for labelling products made in illegal Israel settlements in the Occupied State of Palestine."

He went on saying that "the move requires the correct and proper indication of origin of products produced in illegal settlements in the West Bank," adding that "We consider the decision as a significant move toward a total boycott of Israeli settlements, which are built illegally on occupied Palestinian lands."

The veteran Palestinian politician also said that "the EU has once again moved from the level of statements to taking concrete policy decisions. We believe that more actions are necessary to hold Israel accountable for the crimes it continues to commit against the land and people of Palestine."

The EU decision is made amid an ongoing wave of tension between Israel and the Palestinians in the Palestinian territories which broke out in early October. The wave of tension has so far killed 82 Palestinians and wounded hundreds in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.

In the meantime, 12 Israelis were killed and dozens wounded in a series of stabbing, shooting and running over car attacks in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel.

"This comes at a crucial time when Israeli incitement and brutality against Palestinian civilians has reached a peak. October alone has seen the highest recorded casualties of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since Israel's attack on Gaza last summer," said Erekat.

He said that "the extra-judicial killings of innocent Palestinian civilians at the hands of the Israeli occupying forces and illegal Israeli settlers must stop," adding that "The meaningful step taken by the EU today is one of many necessary step to put a stop to these illegal settlements and the aggression on our population."

Meanwhile, Jamil Majdalani, senior PLO official, told Xinhua that the EU decision "is positive and it is a right step in the right direction," adding that "the decision is so important because it calls on the people in Europe to stop buying these products made in the Israeli settlements."

He expressed hope that one day "more serious and practical decisions will be taken in regards to going for a general boycott of the Israeli settlement products all over the world," and called on the international community to take the initiative and follow the steps of the EU to boycot the Israeli settlements' products.

In September, the EU parliament recommended to the EU Commission to take the initiative and label the Israeli settlements' products in order to distinguish it from other products make in Israel. Also in April, five EU countries called for implementing a law of labeling the products made in the Israeli settlements.

The Palestinian consensus government welcomed the EU decision and said in a press statement that the decision "is part of the serious EU efforts to back the principles of peace."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had earlier stated that the EU decision "approves that all settlements are illegal."

Some senior officials in the Palestinian Ministry of Economy called for promoting the EU decision by forbidding the export of these products to other parts of the world.

Tayseer Amro, Palestinian deputy minister of economy, told Xinhua that since 1967, the settlements, which were illegally built up on the Palestinian lands, had made several millions of dollars as a profit, adding that "such a decision would reduce these profits that feed the settlements."

Mustafa Barghouti, chairman of the Palestinian National Initiative Party, told Xinhua that the EU decision "is a very important step that serves the Palestinian cause," adding that "this decision doesn't allow the world to recognize Israel outside the borders of 1967."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Committee to Boycott the Israeli Settlements Products said in a press statement that the EU decision is welcomed, and it is the fruits of the Palestinian efforts over the past several years, adding that "this would pave the road for the EU to make more decisions against the Israeli violations."

Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, also welcomed the EU decision of labeling the products from the Israeli settlements. Sami Abu Zuhri, the movement's spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that the decision "is in the right direction." Endit