vi invio un articolo pubblicato oggi sul Times inglese (non è tradotto) che
riguarda la richiesta fatta dall'autorità inglese ai supermercati e vari di
non mettere in vendita prodotti israeliani che non abbiano descritto
chiaramente il luogo di provenienza. E' l'applicazione dell'accordo di
associazione unione europea e israele rispetto ai prodotti delle colonie nei
territori occupati della Palestina.
Mi auguro che tutti gli uffici doganali europei facciano cio' che hanno
fatto gli inglesi , far rispettare ad  Israele gli accordi che firma e
quindi non  esportare a dazi doganali ridotti o esenti merci che produce
nelle colonie dei territori occupati della Palestina.
L'ambasciatore israeliano in Inghilterra  ha gridato che è una
discriminazione politica, il solito vittimismo e non riconoscimento delle
proprie responsabilità.
E' tempo che finisca l'impunità di Israele che viola continuamente ogni
legalità internazionale e anche gli accordi commerciali.
Non si tratta di boicottaggio delle merci israeliane si tratta di impedire
che Israele frodi il cittadino europeo esportando a dazi ridotti merci
illegali.
Mi auguro che questa volta non si accettino ricatti della diplomazia
israeliana e si ascolti invece le voci come quelli di Gush Shalom, pacifisti
israeliani che insieme a noi parlamentari europei hanno lavorato per
individuare i prodotti illegali.
Mi auguro che l'Unione Eurpea se continua l'occupazione coloniale e militare
dei territori palestinesi sospenda l' intero accordo di Associazione con
Israele.

Luisa Morgantini


Britain bans Israel label on goods from West Bank
From Times - 10/07/2002 (526 words)

Valerie Elliott, Consumer Editor

SUPERMARKETS must no longer use "produce of Israel" labels on vegetables,
fruit, flowers, wine and fruit juice grown and packed in the occupied
territories of Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights.

The instruction from the Government has angered Israeli diplomats and some
businessmen, who believe that the decision is connected to an aggressive
campaign for a boycott of Israeli goods.

The Israeli Embassy's official response is that it is still "studying" the
likely impact of the change, though privately representatives say they are
shocked by the move. It is the first time the Government has issued
instructions that clearly differentiate between Israel and the occupied
territories.

One senior Israeli Embassy source yesterday accused ministers of succumbing
to "pressure from campaigners with an obvious anti-Israeli political
agenda".

He added that the Government may have "unwittingly bowed to groups that have
nothing to do with consumer interests but rather are seeking to score
political points against Israel."

The change came in a letter from David Holliday, chief horticulture
marketing inspector at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) to the British Retail Consortium and supermarket chains. The
matter is to be taken up with Margaret Beckett, the Rural Affairs Secretary,
by Lord Young of Graffham, a former Trade and Industry Secretary, and now
chairman of the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Holliday wrote: "Advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the
Department of Trade and Industry is that produce from these occupied
territories ought not to be labelled as 'Produce of Israel', because these
territories are not recognised as part of Israel. It has been agreed that in
this particular case and in order to give as much information as possible
these products should be labelled with their region of production rather
than a country of origin that may be misleading."

A spokesman denied that the instruction was politically motivated, and said
that the action had been taken after inquiries by retailers asked by
shoppers about the origin of the produce. He said that the instruction was
agreed by the European Union and applied to all member states.

It means that produce from Israeli-owned co-operatives and farms in the
occupied territories will not qualify for preferential rates of import
duties at ports. Exporters will have to pick up the bill or pass on the cost
to customers in Britain.

The Israeli Embassy is unaware of any other EU state adopting such a policy.

Lord Young said: "This has come like a bolt from the blue. We believe it is
discriminatory and unfair. I cannot believe the Foreign Office and DTI are
behind this. This is something that has come out of Defra, not from anyone
high up, and does not represent the views of the Government."

Betty Hunter, of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has been
campaigning for a boycott of Israeli goods, said: "We are extremely pleased.
A lot of produce from illegal Israeli settlements is being mixed with goods
from Israel and they have been using the label to get advantageous tax
concessions from the EU."

Copyright 2002 Times Newspapers Limited

Date: 10/07/2002
Publication:  The Times (London)
Subject: Political and public affairs, Retailing and distribution, Shopping
and shops
Country: Europe, European union, Israel, Israel / Background, Mediterranean,
Mediterranean / Background, Middle east, Middle east / Background, United
kingdom, Western europe
Scope: Distribution channels, Government, Political and public affairs,
Retailing