Only the European Union could argue that stigmatizing goods produced in the West Bank helps Israel. And only the Obama State Department could agree.
The EU last November began refusing to allow the label “Made in Israel” on goods produced outside the pre-1967 borders. The move played right into the hands of the anti-Israel boycott movement.
That’s why Hamas — which is on the EU’s terrorist watchlist — hailed this “step in the right direction.”
The EU reaffirmed that stand last week — and the State Department said it had no problem, either. State spokesman John Kirby insists that labeling products is not “equivalent to a boycott.”
No surprise there: Last summer, State announced it wouldn’t protect Israel from any boycott, divestment and sanctions efforts aimed at “Israeli-controlled territories.”
And the latest remarks came after a week of particularly harsh public criticism of Israel by administration officials.
This from a president who claims to be the most pro-Israel chief executive ever.
Under the rules, products originating in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem must be identified as coming from an “Israeli settlement.”
Anything less, says the EU, “would mislead the consumer.”
How exactly is this supposed to help Israel? According to the European Union, it will let people target their boycotts to settlement products alone — where they otherwise might refuse to buy anything from Israel.
Some consolation.
Funny, thing, though: Similar territorial disputes around the globe number at least 200 — including northern Cyprus, Kashmir and Tibet. Yet the only labeling guidelines the EU has issued are the Israeli ones. That’s a textbook definition of “double standard.”
Which is why Israeli officials compare the labels to the yellow Star of David the Nazis forced European Jews to wear.
And, of course, the move — indeed, all boycott-divestment-sanctions pressure on the Jewish state — will do nothing to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks, because it’s the Palestinians who refuse to return to the negotiating table.
European hypocrisy on these issues is nothing new. The new low here is that the Obama team “solidly behind Israel” is backing the EU’s disgraceful play.