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Israel: EU Labeling of West Bank Goods a -Red Line-
(Times of Israel) Raphael Ahren - Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said the EU's intention to publish guidelines for the labeling of Israeli goods produced beyond the pre-1967 lines is a "red line" for Israel. Countries that decide to label settlement products will no longer be considered by Jerusalem to be significant players in the Middle East conflict, she warned. By implementing a labeling regime for settlement goods, Europe is in effect forcing its solution for the conflict on Israel and declaring on which sides it stands. It thus can no longer be considered an honest broker, she said. Israel is fully aware that exports from the settlements to the EU make up less than 1% of Israel's total exports to the EU. "Our concern is that once you put a label on Judea and Samaria, you put a label on Israel. We see it as a boycott of Israel for all intents and purposes.... Europe is doing this to create diplomatic pressure on Israel."