Former US president calls on EU to stand behind condemnation of settlement expansion and label products clearly.
By JPOST.COM STAFFJimmy carter smiling from couch 370(photo credit: REUTERS)
Former US president Jimmy Carter is pushing the European Union to implement a law forcing products coming out of the West Bank settlements to be labeled as such, according to a report in the Irish Times.“The EU has repeatedly condemned settlement expansion in the West Bank," Carter was quoted as saying, "it could therefore introduce a clear labeling of products made in Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.”Carter said that European diplomats share his belief that any Israeli building beyond the 1967 lines are an "(illegal) intrusion by Israel into Palestine."Carter's comments came while visiting Dublin in the company of a group called the "Elders," a private of group of world leaders.His sentiments on the issue of product labeling were echoed by one of the "Elders" in the form of former Ireland president Mary Robinson. However Robinson was quick to note that the move is not an attack on Israel, but rather an effort to push along a stagnant peace process, according to the Irish Times.“People throughout Europe, in their capacity as consumers, have the power to reignite hope in the Middle East,” she said. “As Israel’s largest trading partner, the EU could send a strong signal by introducing clear, EU-wide labeling guidelines.”Carter noted that the trend of European governments voting in favor of granting Palestinians an observer status in the UN last year, "was very encouraging to the Palestinians and perhaps very discouraging to the Israelis."
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