(JTA) — The decision by the European Union court to uphold the requirement to label foodstuffs that originate in Israeli settlements is ”suggestive of anti-Israel bias,” the U.S. State Department said.
“This requirement serves only to encourage, facilitate, and promote boycotts, divestments, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel,” the statement issued Wednesday said.
The statement also said that the United States “unequivocally opposes any effort to engage in BDS, or to otherwise economically pressure, isolate, or otherwise delegitimize Israel.”
The ruling Tuesday by the Court of Justice of the European Union was on a case brought by Psagot, a West Bank winery that claimed it was being discriminated against because of a requirement passed by the French government for labeling. The requirement was based on European Commission regulations from 2015.
The court rejected the lawsuit and reaffirmed both the French government’s requirement and the European Commission regulation.
The statement added that the “path toward resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict is through direct negotiations. America stands with Israel against efforts to economically pressure, isolate, or delegitimize it.”
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