On the way to a political clash:
Israel announced today (Wednesday) that it condemns the Belgian decision to label products originating in Judea and Samaria, which aims to encourage a boycott of products leaving Israel.
According to Israeli sources, the Belgian decision to label products harms Israelis and Palestinians alike and is inconsistent with the Israeli government's policy, which focuses on improving the lives of Palestinians, strengthening the PA and improving Israel's relations with other European countries.
Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll, who took off for a diplomatic visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, canceled following Brussels' decision his planned meetings with the Belgian Foreign Ministry and Parliament.
Deputy Minister Rolle attacked the decision of the Belgian government, saying: "The decision of the Belgian government strengthens the extremists, does not help promote peace in the region and makes Belgium a factor that does not contribute to stability in the Middle East."
Deputy Minister Idan Roll, Photo: Reuven Castro
Oded Ravibi, head of the Efrat local council and who led the foreign relations of the Yesha council for many years, commented on the Belgian government's decision that products from Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem would be marked and said: "Harming and confiscating the products will lead to increased unemployment among the Palestinians, the closure of factories and the halting of joint ventures."
Meanwhile, Ravibi also noted that "in the decision to create a blacklist, they directly harm precisely where peace resides. Deputy Minister Idan Roll acted well when he made a decision not to meet with those whose actions bring a message of boycott and harm to both sides."