'PA boycott harms proximity talks'

Ayalon: "If boycott continues, it may damage the process."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Danny Ayalon 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post)
Danny Ayalon 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post)
In a meeting of the Knesset's Economic Affairs Committee on Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon discussed how to respond to the Palestinian Authority's decision to boycott Israeli products originating in Judea and Samaria, saying that it may hinder upcoming proximity talks.
At the start of his address, Ayalon said, "We do not differentiate between Jerusalem, Kiryat Tivon or Ariel. As far as we are concerned, this boycott is part of a continuous planned and budgeted campaign of incitement and delegitimization against Israel by the Palestinian Authority.”
“Should this matter shift from a political battering ram to an economic problem,” Ayalon continued, “then we must be prepared to take additional measures.” Ayalon explained that the boycott is one of the more important issues with which the Foreign Ministry is dealing.
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Ayalon added that the Palestinians are currently trying to be accepted as observers at the World Trade Organization, which maintains the issue of free trade and removal of obstacles hindering free trade. Ayalon ventured that the continuation of the boycott would distance the Palestinians from their goal of acceptance to the World Trade Organization.
He also said, "We are currently at the start of the talks between the Palestinians and ourselves, and I therefore presume that the issue will be raised during the proximity talks. If the boycott continues, it may damage the progress of the talks and the foundation of trust between us."