Israel has condemned a decision of the French government to implement guidelines set by the European Commission for labeling Israeli goods manufactured in settlements situated on lands not recognized by the international community as part of the Jewish state. The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem stated that France, where an anti-boycott law exists, was promoting measures that could be interpreted as giving a tailwind to radical elements and to the Boycott Divest and Sanctions movement, or BDS, which seeks to harm Israel’s economy worldwide. A political official in Jerusalem said that France had chosen the route of labeling goods after failing in its efforts to convene an international peace conference, aimed at ending the decades old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Meanwhile, the guideline issued yesterday by the French government stated that the label “Made in the West Bank” was not sufficient, since it could mislead consumers, and the words “Made on an Israeli settlement” or a similar wording should be added.
