US tells Israel settlement goods need labeling

The United States has reiterated that products imported from the occupied Palestinian territories should not be erroneously labeled as made in Israel.

The guidelines were reissued last week by the US Customs administration in response to repeated Israeli mislabeling of West Bank products.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the decision to reissue the policy had been taken after complaints that some West Bank products had been mislabeled prior to US import.

"US Customs and Border Protection reissued guidance on their marking requirements," he told reporters. "It in no way supersedes prior rulings or regulations.

"And nor does it impose additional requirements with respect to merchandise imported from the West Bank, Gaza Strip or Israel."

"Our understanding is that there were allegations of mislabeling, around nine or ten complaints," Toner said, explaining why US Customs had reissued its guidance.

"As you know, US guidelines don't differentiate between products produced in settlements or anywhere else in the West Bank," he said.

The US Customs statement, visible on the agency's website, restates the terms of 1995 and 1997 laws requiring that goods from Gaza and the West Bank be labeled as such.

"It is not acceptable to mark the aforementioned goods with the words 'Israel,' 'Made in Israel,' 'Occupied Territories-Israel' or any variation thereof," the statement said.

The European Union recently acted to prevent such violations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch supporter of settlement expansion, has condemned the labeling.

Now James Morris, editor of America-hijcked.com, says the US is paying ‘lip service’ by making such moves as it is basically been corrupted by pro-Israeli lobby, AIPAC.

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