BDS to question 'Made in Israel'

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159394.html


The internationally-endorsed anti-Israeli Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign is to question the origin of Israel-sourced goods.

The French branch of the pro-Palestinian campaign plans to file a fraud lawsuit against Agrexco, Israel's largest agricultural exporter, a Press TV's correspondent reported.

Rights groups contend that fruit, flowers and other goods are being stamped 'Made in Israel' despite being produced in illegal Jewish settler units across the occupied Syrian and Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Golan Heights. The United Nations and European Union have condemned the settlements as illegal under international law.

Tel Aviv, meanwhile, enjoys a preferential trade agreement with the EU, which permits "Israeli" goods to avoid certain taxes.

Speaking to our reporter, however, President of Agrexco's European operations, Oziel Kouri denied any wrongdoing on the part of his company.

Kouri, who refused to go on camera, claimed Israeli companies could not change the origin of EU-headed goods, being subject to fine-tooth custom searches.

In 1997, Israel was found importing Brazilian orange juice, labeling them 'Made in Israel' and rerouting them to Europe to save on taxes.

Aided by the thriving export industry, Tel Aviv is accused of enforcing an apartheid system by which it indulges Jewish people while depriving the Palestinians of their basic necessities.