Grassroots Push to Boycott Israel Gains Steam in EU
JERUSALEM, Israel -- A grassroots push by the BDS (Boycott, Sanction, Divest) movement is picking up steam as the E.U. moves ahead with guidelines for Israeli exports.
The E.U. is reportedly preparing additional guidelines on labeling Israeli products manufactured in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and exported to Europe.
In May, E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told European foreign ministers the guidelines it began working on in 2012 will be "finalized in the near future."
Two E.U. officials, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they're "not authorized to discuss internal E.U. deliberations with the media," said it will be months before the guidelines are completed and their implementation would depend on the status of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
If the talks remain stalemated, the E.U. will implement the new guidelines.
Israel rejects the plan, warning it will only encourage Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas not to return to negotiations.
"Why should he talk?" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "He can get by without talking. He can get by with an international community that blames Israel for not having talks."
Abbas long ago abandoned direct talks with Israel, choosing instead to gain international backing to establish a state based on the 1948 armistice lines with Jerusalem as its capital.
