PSC Media Release
Monday 28th July 2008
Palestine Solidarity Campaign calls on the British Government to Ban Settlement Products as Israel announces new Settlement Building
This week the building of a new West Bank settlement was announced by the Israeli Military Civil Administration. In response Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is launching a new campaign calling on the British government to ban the import and export of settlement products from the UK.
Settlement products have been highlighted in the media throughout the last year after boxes bound for Tesco were photographed inside an illegal West Bank settlement, illustrating that UK supermarkets were routinely stocking settlement goods labelled 'Made in Israel'. This practice flew in the face of regulations imposed by the EU intended to prevent products from illegal settlements benefiting from tax breaks under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Settlement goods caused controversy again in July 2008 as reports by 'More 4' and 'The Observer' found that supermarkets had altered their policies to label goods as produce of 'West Bank'. Consumer groups and the Palestinian General Delegation to the UK complained that this label was misleading to consumers.
It is clear that British supermarkets are attempting to carry on the sale of products from illegal settlements without making it clear to consumers or tax authorities where the produce comes from.
The British governments' policy on the settlements is clear. The Foreign Office website states that 'Settlements are illegal'. The Quartet's Roadmap states that settlement building must stop and settlement outposts must be removed. The announcement of the construction of a new settlement at Maskiot flies in the face of this policy.
If settlements are illegal, how can the import and export of produce from illegal settlements be legal?
PSC is launching a new campaign calling on the government to ban the sale of settlement products. Such a ban would be an effective way of demonstrating the British governments' sincerity in its opposition to illegal Israeli settlements.
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For more information please call:
0207 700 6192
Or Email: info@palestinecampaign.org
Or visit: www.palestinecampaign.org
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) aims to raise public awareness about the occupation of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people. PSC seek to bring pressure on both the British and Israeli government to bring their policies in line with international law. PSC is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation with members from communities across the UK.
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Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX
Tel: 020 7700 6192
Fax: 020 7609 7779
Email: info@palestinecampaign.org
Web: www.palestinecampaign.org
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