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European Union ruling: Ban poultry imports from settlements

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European Union Flag

European officials have informed Israel that the EU  has issued a ruling banning the import of poultry and eggs from Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem.

Even though EU guidelines restricting business and trade with “territories occupied by Israel since June 1967″(pdf) have been in effect since January, this represents an escalation of enforcement. AFP reported an EU official, on confirming the ban, noted the ruling was issued “in the spirit” of these guidelines.

The European officials told Israel’s Agriculture Ministry their veterinary supervision would no longer be recognized in occupied Palestinian territory, therefore eggs and poultry from the settlements wouldn’t meet public health regulations required for import to the 28-nation bloc

Haaretz reported Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir was “surprised by the notification”.

According to the report, Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir was surprised by the notification and assured Israeli veterinary supervision beyond the 1967 borders is no different than within. It also notes that only 5 percent of the poultry produced by Israel originates in the settlements.

Jerusalem and Brussels have been in contact in recent weeks to try and resolve the issue, and an Israeli official is quoted by Walla as saying it is one of the “strangest diplomatic disputes” he has encountered.

We need to see much more action like this. It’s worth republishing Omar Barghouti’s response to the EU’s guideline’s last summer:

Given the EU’s profound complicity at all levels in maintaining Israel’s regime of occupation, colonization and apartheid, these guidelines constitute a bare minimal step in the right direction that may open the door to more effective boycotts against Israel in the future. We welcome them, but we also must soberly remind the European establishment that it is obliged, morally and legally, to do much more on the ground to atone for its role in Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people.

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i think its humans which should be banned from being imported from israel.

This is enforcement of law. We in the US don’t even recognize the existence of international law, never mind the enforcement of same. Good for the EU.

Pee-yew on us.

Great news and especially if the timing is intended as a response to the murder of the two Palestinian youths.

Is the s–t about to hit the fan???.

I certainly hope so.That will keep our zio apologist crew busy attempting to convince us the world is anti semitic and are trying to destroy Israel blah blah blah.

This will be a shot in the arm for BDS.Great news.

note this part!!

“Jerusalem and Brussels have been in contact in recent weeks to try and resolve the issue,”

Why Jerusalem.That is occupied Territory and is not recognized by any nation except Israel.Not even the USA.

Every little bit adds up. The chickens are slowly coming home to roost :-)

As I mentioned before it seems the chickens are coming home to roost, and it is shame on the US for not taking a stand, and telling Israel to go jump in the Dead sea.
The EU has shown time and time again, that they are not intimidated by Israel, as much as the US has been, and boycotting of products from illegal settlements, is the correct course of action.