The Israeli Foreign Ministry has condemned Norway’s decision to label products produced in Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank, according to the Haaretz newspaper.
– The Ministry has stated that this decision will not contribute to the improvement of Israeli-Palestinian relations and will negatively affect bilateral relations between Israel and Norway, as well as negatively affect Norway’s compatibility in improving relations between Israel and the Palestinians. Harretz Late Saturday night.
The night before Announced Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor Party) agrees to Norwegian European Court of Justice Results On the labeling of solution products from 2019.
– Norwegian consumers have the right to know whether food sold in Norway is produced in Israel or in Israeli-occupied territory, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor) said in an email to NTB on Friday night.
Israeli immigration products were previously marked as origin with Israel, but it should be clear from now on that the products came from immigration.
This applies to goods coming from settlements established in violation of international law on both the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
Do not ignore
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Israeli products from occupied territories must be labeled separately so as not to mislead consumers.
– This is not an Israeli boycott by any means. We believe that neglect is a false policy. Norway has good relations with Israel. We will continue to do so, Huitfeldt insists.
He also pointed out that many EU countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Finland, have introduced similar requirements for special labeling products from immigrants.
Norway chairs the Donation Group for Palestine (AHLC), which includes Israel, the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. The AHLC meets several times a year to coordinate international assistance to Palestinians and Palestinian authorities.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it would not comment on whether Israel would stop cooperating with the AHLC as a result of the Norwegian labeling.
Wine, Fruits and Vegetables
– Food produced in Israeli-occupied territories must indicate where the product comes from and where it comes from in Israeli settlements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that especially wine, olive oil, fruits, vegetables and potatoes come from the affected areas.
Norway’s position further states that “Israel” and “Israeli territory” included territory controlled by Israel prior to June 4, 1967, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the International Court of Justice in The Hague. .
This delimitation of the State of Israel is also the basis for understanding the geographical purpose of the EFTA Free Trade Agreement with Israel.
Illegal
Israel has been around since 1967 About 270 apartments and outposts will be called Just 30 settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights in Syria.
The settlements currently have about 700,000 Israelis, but were established in conflict with them Fourth Geneva Conference Article 49 states that the occupying powers may not move certain areas of their own population to the occupied territories.
UN It is also on the Security Council Stuck That settlements are illegal.
“Israeli settlements are undermining the possibility of a two-state solution, and they are an obstacle to peace and stability,” Huitfeldt said in May.
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