Obama’s Economic Boycott Against Israel Adopted by 17 EU Nations

Political Kryptonite ^ | July 6, 2014 | Fred Dardick

[FredDardick]

Since January of last year the European Union has been threatening to boycott any company or entity that does business with the West Bank of Israel. The sanctions, perversely designed by Secretary of State John Kerry, were meant to punish Israel for its settlements in the West Bank and encourage the Jewish nation to adopt Kerry’s peace process framework.

The economic boycott threat was entirely one-sided against Israel. Because there were no consequences for the Palestinian Authority should they abandon the peace process, it gave the PA every reason to harden their position and wait for the EU to act in its favor.

As promised, this week 17 EU nations, including the UK, Germany and France, moved to warn their citizens that “individuals or companies who engage in any economic deals with [occupied territories] could face legal and financial risks and harm their image”.

According to Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Financial transactions, investments, purchases, procurements as well as other economic activities (including in services like tourism) in Israeli settlements or benefiting Israeli settlements, entail legal and economic risks stemming from the fact that the Israeli settlements, according to international law, are built on occupied land and are not recognized as a legitimate part of Israel’s territory”.

The directive is so broadly worded, with no corresponding legal framework to precisely define what activities qualify for the boycott, that just about any economic enterprise between the State of Israel and an EU individual or business could be targeted for prosecution. According to a PA official the current “guidelines encourages an extremist interpretation which does not allow Israel to enter partnerships with Europe”.

From the Palestinian perspective the EU boycott has nothing to do with encouraging peace and everything to do with promoting war. One PA official called the boycott the “first stage” towards the final destruction of Israel. Another PA official predicted “if Israel withdraws from Jerusalem, if Israel uproots the settlements, 650,000 settlers, if Israel removes the (security) fence – what will be with Israel? Israel will come to an end.”

The EU boycott goes a long way towards explaining a recent poll by The Washington Institute for Near East Study that found a massive deterioration in Palestinian support for a two state solution. In what has been described as a “sudden, hardline shift”, 60% percent of Palestinians, including 55% in the West Bank and 68% in Gaza, now “reject permanently accepting Israel’s existence and instead suggest their leaders ‘work toward reclaiming all of historic Palestine, from the river to the sea.’”

With the EU actively working to economically wipe Israel from the map, why should the Palestinians accept a two state solution? It’s not like anyone is going to force them to make painful concessions. Maybe if they wait long enough, they can get the whole thing for themselves.

President Obama knows full well the American people would never support such economic mischief against Israel, so he is prodding Europe do his dirty work for him. Obama and his sidekick Kerry understand the deep seated hatred that Europe has for the Jewish state and know they can count on European governments and people to act maliciously towards Israel on their behalf.

[Olog-hai]

European countries were boycotting Israel before Obama and Kerry were on the scene.

[yldstrk]

It will never work, God has a special relationship with the Jewish people.

[tflabo]

Can anyone name any worthwhile endeavor or beneficial outcome delivered by The Lurch whether past or present? Surely there must be something but Zero comes to the mind.

[headstamp 2]

Let Israel look elsewhere for it’s business interests them. There is a whole world out there besides the stupid governments of Europe and the US.