Israeli-occupied territories

South Africa Forces New Israeli Product Labels: 'Made in Israeli Occupied Territories'

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• published: 24 Aug 2012
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Some Israeli products sold in South Africa will no longer carry the label "Made in Israel." A new law will require vendors to distinguish between consumer goods made in Israel and those made in the West Bank or what is also called Judea and Samaria. Anything manufactured in the Jewish settlements will now carry the label "Made in I-O-T" or the Israeli Occupied Territories. South Africa is the first country to legally require this kind of label and it has provoked a very angry response here in Jerusalem. Israeli Foreign Ministry officials are calling the law totally unacceptable and discriminatory... "It brings to mind ideas of a "racist nature" which the government of South Africa, more than any other, should have wholly rejected" -- that is how the Foreign Ministry described the new law in their official response... Its's true -- South Africa has not mandated new product labels for any other countries where territorial disputes exist...it has no prior record or uniform policy on the issue. Israeli officials say the new law is all about taking political sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...South Africa's objective, they believe, is to support an economic boycott of the Jewish settlements, a step endorsed by pro-palestinian groups...by punishing Jewish businesses in disputed areas, they can show solidarity with the Palestinians and strengthen their own political position... South Africa, like most of the international community, considers the Jewish settlements in the West Bank illegal. Israeli officials say the law will not help foster peacemaking, quite the contrary... Officials in South Africa openly admit their labeling law will help consumers stay away from buying products made in the Jewish settlements. Defending the law, officials said it was consistent with South Africa's position that the occupied territories are not part of the State of Israel... Controversy over West-Bank made products is not new...In 2003 the EU first singled them out, ruling they were not eligible for tax breaks like products made in the rest of Israel... In the face of domestic opposition to the Jewish settlements, the Israeli Parliament set down heavy fines citizens who boycott business there. But South Africa's new "Made in Israeli occupied Territories" has taken the controversy to a new level. It is clear victory for Palestinian and pro-palestinian groups. The Palestinian Authority officially thanked South Africa's government for passing the new law. The PA, and its supporters around the world, would like to intensify their boycott of Jewish businesses in the West Bank...So far, that boycott has made little difference...but if South Africa's law has an effect or inspires other countries, Palestinians will also suffer... Israel's diplomatic response was to summon South Africa's ambassador to lodge a formal complaint. Jordana Miller, JN1, Jerusalem.