Report Questions Labels on Settlement Exports

According to The Guardian, an investigation by Global Echo found that Israeli exporters routinely mislabel agricultural products originating from settlements in Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights as products of Israel. The organization said the practice allows exporters to benefit from customs preferences when shipping goods to the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Over eight years, the nonprofit analyzed more than 30,000 export documents covering thousands of shipments. It found that roughly one in six shipments contained products from settlements and that at least 42 percent of those shipments were labeled as products grown in Israel.

According to the report, the practice is widespread and intended to secure lower import duties. The authors argue that it increases the competitiveness of fruit and vegetables produced in the settlements on European markets while reducing customs revenue.

Global Echo said exporters use a range of methods, including listing Israeli addresses, providing fictitious addresses and mixing settlement produce with goods originating in Israel. The organization also found that, in some cases, European customs authorities accepted certificates issued by Israeli authorities for products originating in Palestine.

The European Union is Israel's largest trading partner. Under current trade rules, however, products from Israeli settlements are not eligible for the tariff preferences granted to Israeli exports.

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