2023-11-08 18:50:00
The bill dates from January of this year, as evidenced by the date at the bottom of the document. There is also no mention of the Hamas attack of October 7 in the explanatory memorandum, nor of the Israeli response. “His presentation obviously cannot be dissociated from events in the Middle East,” specifies the CD&V in a press release.
“We are not targeting products coming from Israel as a whole, but rather those coming from illegally occupied territories,” explains the party. It would therefore only be part of the 1.4 billion euros of goods imported into Belgium from Israel. Belgium was, in 2022, the fourth largest importer of Israeli products in the European Union, according to figures from the Foreign Trade Agency.
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Fruits, vegetables, wine…
This ban, if adopted, would mainly concern fruits and vegetables, but also cosmetic products (notably those from the Dead Sea), shampoos and even wine. The exact scope of the products and services concerned is not specified in the proposed law. It is, in fact, difficult to determine.
”The precise list of products is not very clear. There are products that are clearly present and identifiable in our supermarkets when they are well labeled. We can cite for example sesame bars, certain wines, jams… but most of the products are rather fruits and vegetables which are generally poorly identified,” indicates Nathalie Janne d’Othée, research manager at CNCD-11.11.11 , which has been calling for this ban for several years. Some products from the occupied Palestinian territories are labeled as coming from Israel and their barcode begins with 729, without precise distinction. “There is indeed labeling provided for products coming from the occupied territories, but it is estimated that it is only respected for 10% of products, despite the European obligation”, we specify to the CD&V.
Note that in May, the European Union decided to apply a new code on customs declarations for products coming from Israel. This code is necessary to benefit from the preferential customs duty which prevails in trade between the European Union and Israel. But, in reality, controls remain complicated and many foodstuffs produced in the occupied territories benefit from this particular customs duty.
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Work continues
Work on a more precise identification will have to continue, it emerged from a ministerial meeting this Wednesday devoted to the measures to be adopted concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (read elsewhere). Even within the majority, there is no consensus on the question of the ban. The Flemish centrists will be able to count on the support of French-speaking environmentalists, Groen and the socialists. The liberals, in particular the MR, are opposed to it.
Among the Engagés, we wait before deciding. “We will see what content will be proposed for discussion and votes in committee, and especially if the content can contribute to the release of Hamas hostages and to stopping the massacres,” explains Engagés leader Catherine Fonck.
“It is a decision which is mainly symbolic”, recognizes political support for the text, and not a real means of destabilizing the Israeli economy.
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