Americans for Peace Now joins its Israeli sister-organization Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) in welcoming the European Union’s new guidelines for labeling products made in West Bank settlements.
Shalom Achshav today issued the following statement:
Peace now views the settlement product labeling guidelines issued today by the European Union as a means to
oppose the occupation and, thereby, support Israel. Peace Now has always considered the settlement enterprise as
the main obstacle to a two state solution, and, like the settlers themselves, views Israeli factories and economic
institutions within the West Bank as a political statement. A more accurate labeling system, as Israel never
annexed the West Bank, will allow European residents to make purchases according to ideological considerations.
Further, this system will help curb efforts to boycott Israel entirely, such as those advocated by the BDS
movement. Finally, when negotiations which could lead to a two state solution do not exist, measures which
differentiate between Israel and the West Bank are important in preserving the two state solution.