Israel angry at EU move

Benjamin Netanyahu has likened a decision by the European Union to label goods from Israeli settlements to the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses. Photo / AP

Benjamin Netanyahu has likened a decision by the European Union to label goods from Israeli settlements to the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses.

The EU yesterday announced new guidelines that mean farmers, vintners and manufacturers in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Golan Heights may no longer boast a "Made in Israel" label for Europe-bound goods. Instead, they must tell consumers they come from a "settlement" in the territories, which were captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Wrapping up a trip to Washington, Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, said: "The labelling of products of the Jewish state by the European Union brings back dark memories. Europe should be ashamed of itself."

After the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they imposed a boycott against the country's Jews, issuing orders and posting signs telling the public not to buy from them.

The EU does not recognise Israel's sovereignty over the territories, and considers the Israeli settlements built on those lands to be illegal under international law.

More than 500,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem on land that the Palestinians want for a future state. There are 16 to 20 industrial parks as well as hundreds of farms, vineyards and date groves. Many employ Palestinian labourers.

The Gaza Strip is also included in the new labelling guidelines, but Israel allows the coastal enclave to export just a token handful of goods.

Britain, Denmark and Belgium have already have similar guidelines in place.

- AFP, Washington Post, Bloomberg