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Labeling Settler Goods Misses the Mark

(Israel Hayom) David Benjamin - European officials are touting EU labeling of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank as a "service" to the consumer. This assumes that products originating in the territories are somehow legally or morally tainted. As far as international law is concerned, while the question of whether Judea and Samaria are even "occupied" in the first place is hotly disputed, there are no prohibitions whatsoever on economic activities such as investing in occupied territories or running a business there. Certainly there are no restrictions on providing gainful employment to the local residents. Far from being prejudicial to the people living in the area, such activities contribute positively to their economy. These businesses frequently employ Palestinian residents of the territories who will lose their source of livelihood if their employers are forced to relocate. In addition, these enterprises are conducive to peace since they provide islands of normal interaction and goodwill between Israelis and Palestinians. For those who want a speedy and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian impasse, boycotting products from the few locations that actually give hope for future coexistence hardly seems the way to go. Lt. Col. (res.) David Benjamin is an Israel-based attorney specializing in international law, the law of armed conflict and counterterrorism.
2013-06-07 00:00:00
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