Lapid: Settlement labeling bid ‘a stain on Europe’

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid says “the call from EU foreign ministers” to label products produced in the West Bank “is essentially a call to boycott Israel.”

Lapid refers to a letter — sent to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and signed by 16 foreign ministers — calling for the labeling of products manufactured beyond the Green Line, as a means to pressure Israel to change its settlement policies.

In a statement, the Yesh Atid leader says, “There is no difference between products manufactured beyond the Green Line and products manufactured inside the Green Line. This initiative is irresponsible and can potentially spell calamity for the market in Israel. Such an initiative is a stain on the European Union and Israel should fight to prevent this dangerous process.”

Israeli MP and chairperson of the centrist Yesh Atid party, Yair Lapid celebrates with supporters early on January 18, 2015 at his party headquarters in Tel Aviv. (photo credit: AFP / GIL COHEN-MAGEN)