Xinhua, Jerusalem :
The European Union (EU) has recently decided to stop importing poultry and eggs from the West Bank settlements, the Israeli website Walla reported Thursday.
The EU informed the Israeli Agriculture Ministry that it does not recognize the veterinary supervision in lands situated in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since the 1967 Mideast War, the report said, adding that as a result, the poultry and eggs will not be marketed to European countries.
The share of poultry and eggs produced in the West Bank is only 5 percent of the overall Israeli market, according to the report.
The Agriculture Ministry said it was surprised by the new directive and made clear to the EU in a letter that the veterinary supervision in the settlements is not different from that in the rest of Israel and stands up to the international standards, according to the Walla.
For its part, the EU told the ministry that the new directive complies with the recent EU guidelines announced last July and enacted in January, which restrict European businesses and other entities from conducting trade or cooperating with Israeli organizations and companies operating in the West Bank territories.
On Sunday, the Israeli government announced that it would implement a plan worth 14.5 billion U.S. dollars to strengthen ties with Latin American countries to boost cooperation and trade in order to “diversify” trade connections with the international community.
