Twenty-two organisations, including Christian Aid, The Methodist Church of England and the Church of Sweden have released a report recommending that the EU stops importing goods made in Israeli settlements.
The report, “Trading away peace: How Europe helps sustain illegal Israeli settlements”, also calls on the EU to impose laws requiring clearer labelling of products made in West Bank settlements as a minimum measure.
The report states that currently, settlement products can be imported as “made in Israel”, adding that this “denies consumers their right, under existing EU consumer protection legislation, to make informed decisions when they shop”.
Products made in the settlements and sold in the EU are estimated to be worth £230m a year and vary from citrus fruits and dates to carbonation devices made by SodaStream, as well as plastics, textiles and toys.
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories Richard Falk has urged the international community to boycott companies with links to settlements. The UN official posted an antisemitic cartoon on his blog last year.
