Israel was to end its export of poultry and dairy produce to the European Union from settlements considered illegal by the international community and the Israeli peace camp, Israeli and European officials said on Sunday. The restrictions stem from directives issued by the European Commission in February and affect chicken and milk products from settlements in East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the occupied West Bank. “In keeping with previous decisions, the EU no longer recognized the authority of the veterinary inspections services of Israel to approve the export of poultry and (dairy products), the origin of which are in settlements,” a European official told AFP.
Palestinian, Israeli and international peace protesters break into Rami Levi supermarket in the Sha’ar Binyamin settlement near Jerusalem, to protest against the Israeli occupation and call for a boycott of Israeli settlements, October 2012 (Photo: Activestills)
The official said that during discussions over implementation of the directives, the “Israelis were asked to put in place a system of distinguishing between the origins of dairy products and poultry.” An Israeli official involved in the affair told “Haaretz” that the agriculture ministry had recently issued directives to poultry and dairy manufacturers to “prepare for the EU decision and separate manufacturing lines, to enable the continued export to the Europe” without including products from settlements. “Haaretz” newspaper on Sunday cited officials in the foreign and agricultural ministries as saying the move would have minimal economic effect as the produce affected would now be channeled towards the local Israeli market.
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