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US criticizes European court ruling requiring labeling of certain products

“Circumstances surrounding the labeling requirement in the specific facts presented to the court are suggestive of anti-Israel bias,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.

Psagot Winery lables. Credit: Psagotwines.com.
Psagot Winery lables. Credit: Psagotwines.com.

The United States on Wednesday faulted the Tuesday ruling by the European Court of Justice that disallows products coming from the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights to be labeled “made in Israel.”

Specifically, it noted the Psagot Winery case.

“The United States is deeply concerned by the E.U. requirement identified in the decision issued yesterday by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the Psagot Case,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus. “The circumstances surrounding the labeling requirement in the specific facts presented to the court are suggestive of anti-Israel bias.”

“This requirement serves only to encourage, facilitate and promote BDS against Israel,” she continued. “The United States unequivocally opposes any effort to engage in BDS, or to otherwise economically pressure, isolate or otherwise delegitimize Israel.”

She added that the path towards resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict is “through direct negotiations. America stands with Israel against efforts to economically pressure, isolate or delegitimize it.”

Jewish and pro-Israel groups slammed the court’s decision.

“Such hate has no place in our schools or our state, especially as we begin Jewish American Heritage Month,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
“While our ability to provide additional information at this time is limited, we will continue to keep the community informed,” the private D.C. university stated.
“This is not a prank. It was an act of intimidation meant to spread fear,” Vince Gasparro, a Liberal parliamentarian, told JNS.
“We welcomed this traitor into our nation with open arms,” the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan said. “And he repaid us by building a bomb and helping our great enemy.”
The “failed approach” to lasting peace between the countries has “allowed terrorist groups to entrench and enrich themselves, undermine the authority of the Lebanese state and endanger Israel’s northern border,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
“One has to wonder how that humble pie tastes for the Democrats today,” Sam Markstein of the Republican Jewish Coalition told JNS.