The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, has decried new French regulations that all goods from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights be labelled, as “made in the West Bank” (Israeli settlement)” and “made in the Golan Heights (Israeli settlement).” This decision relates to the EU’s 2015 guidelines which call for products from the West Bank and the Golan Heights to be tagged with distinct labels.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“This counterproductive and unconstructive move, which adopts economic sanctions against the Mid-east’s only democracy, will not advance the cause of peace. Rather it will embolden those BDS advocates who promote the biased and discriminatory campaign of boycotts that seeks to malign and delegitimize Israel. The application of such double standards, by which the Jewish state is singled out for censure while European states are opening trade channels with Iran, sends the wrong message to the Palestinian leadership, encouraging it to continue its strategy of avoiding direct negotiations for a two-state solution, and perpetuating incitement and violence against Israelis. If France wants to play a positive role in resolving the conflict, it should exert pressure on the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table, not punish Israel.”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading civil rights organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich (03) 9272 5677.