Owner of a Bnei Brak wine shop replaces European goods with wines from the West Bank; Moshavim Movement warns that labeling could extend to all of Israel.
Elisha Ben Kimon, Billie Frenkel, YNET
Yoav Schwartz, 46, owner of a wine shop in Bnei Brak, decided to respond to the EU’s decision to label products from the West Bank and the Golan Heights by taking European wines off his shelves and replacing them with those made in the West Bank.
“Since the issue hit the headlines, I immediately decided to just remove European wines from my store’s shelves,” Schwartz told Ynet.
“I removed wines from Spain, Italy and France. It hurts me financially but I’m willing to take it,” he added. “My bottles range between NIS 200 and 500, so it’s not a simple thing.” Meanwhile, the wines are in storage and are not for sale. “Even if people come and ask for European wines, I’m not selling them right now.”
Commenting on the EU’s decision to label products, he said that “this is a political decision that prevents people from tasting quality products. There are quality products made in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) that can hold a candle to any European wines. In addition, the main victims of the boycott are actually Palestinian workers, who will be forced to leave their jobs in the event that there are losses.”
The Moshavim Movement warned on Friday that the European labeling of agricultural products from the settlements could develop into a ban on all Israeli agricultural products, which would immediately hurt all farmers who export abroad in various sectors such as fruits, vegetables, flowers and orchards. “The Europeans do not distinguish between products from the settlements and products from the rest of the country,” they claim.
Meir Tzur, secretary general of the Moshavim Movement, sent a missive to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel and Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely demanding that they take action and oppose the new policy. “A situation may arise in which all Israeli farm products are boycotted and this would seriously harm agricultural exports to Europe,” he said. “Israeli agriculture today is in crisis and the livelihood of many farmers depends on exports abroad. Such a boycott of agricultural products could lead to the closure of farms
Figures published Thursday by the Yesha Council revealed that there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of enterprises in the West Bank, from 680 in 2011 to 890 in 2015. These establishments employ, according to their data, 24,000 workers, 15,300 of which are from the Palestinian territories – an increase of 24 percent compared to 2011.
The Yesha Council noted that this increase occurred despite laws enacted by the Palestinian Authority against Palestinians working for Jewish businesses in the West Bank and against the trade in products made in the settlements. They also noted that the Palestinian population constitutes approximately 62 percent of all workers in industry and agriculture and that industrial development in the area makes it possible to create new jobs for the local population. However, these workers often earn significantly lower wages than the minimum wage.
@ Buzz of the Orient:
Within Israel few if any Islamic-Arab made products are sold. Unless if the products are locally made and controlled by Israeli health safety inspectors.
Even those we seldom buy. None from here on.
Israeli Arabs grown vegetables and fruits in general and so far are safe.
Otherwise. Imported Islamic made products may be found in some Muslim Villages but then again only if legally imported after strict safety and security checks.
EUROPE:
I doubt that the products from there unless if individually secured by Israeli experts will be sold openly here. Awareness to the danger is already raising.
Terrible consequences from EUrope folding to Islam.
@ Buzz of the Orient:
The new PM, Mr. Trudeau is definitively pro-Palestinian.
When Israeli products were boycotted by BDS or previous “do-gooders” the local Jewish communities got together and bought out the Israeli products (sometimes called “buycott”) – that needs to be encouraged. I think it is time that Jewish-owned businesses, and those owned by other friends of Israel, should start to remove European products from their shelves and replace them with products from ALL of Israel including the disputed territories, along with products from countries that support Israel such as the USA, Canada and Australia. I, for one, will no longer buy ANYTHING made or grown in Europe.
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2:
I recall that many years ago in Canada there was a scare that the Palestinians had injected poison into Jaffa oranges, and they were taken off the market.
@ watsa46:
As are Canadian wines – the world’s best ice wine, for example.
I think that every medicine, vaccine or life saving device made in Israel should be so labeled that the Muslim receiving it be told by the physician that if he wants to live he can thank the Jews. Otherwise he can join Allah and his virgins.
I think Israel should counter by labelling all European goods with the EU symbol with a swastika in the center of the circle of stars.
Of course, if they don’t want the diplomatic headaches that would incur, I am sure that Bibi could privately talk to the leaders of supermarket and retail store chains in Israel, and get them to take such an initiative on their own. Then when the Euronazis complain, he can say “Hey, it wasn’t my idea!”
@ watsa46:
Israel produces some of the best wines in the world. No need to import. If one must import for whatever reason, there are many options to European wines.
Get Australian, US or even S-American wines. They are very good.
Jew-hating Europeans decision to affix the yellow star to Israeli products from areas of Israel they don’t recognize will hurt the very people they mean to help; it won’t hurt Israel that will look for new markets in countries not obsessed with the Jews.
Europe’s loss is Israel’s gain.
Congratulations to the patriot!
Further. Increasingly the manpower used in the EU is Islamic, it would be smart to avoid using products hailing… from there since the muslims can and will poison foods and drugs sold to us and also sabotage machines and vehicles.
My records show that islamic murderers have tried to poison Jews here, so expect that they will try even more now from Europe.
Heads up!