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Last update - 04:23 06/06/2009
EU seeks to increase pressure on Israel for settlement freeze
By Reuters
Tags: Israel news, EU, Obama 

The European Union is considering using its trade clout to bolster U.S. pressure for an Israeli freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank, diplomats said on Friday.

The EU is Israel's biggest trading partner and one option it may have is to crack down on fruit, vegetables, olive oil and other farm produce grown by settlers in the Palestinian territories.

Some European governments have long suspected such products are entering the EU at low import tariffs reserved for output labeled as coming from Israel proper.
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Aside from the possibility of a concerted push to deny tariff concessions to settlement produce coming into the European Union, diplomats said EU nations also were looking at using economic and scientific research exchanges with Israel as an area where they could apply leverage on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In addition to being Israel's largest market for exports, the EU is its second largest source of imports after the United States.

But diplomats said Europe would follow Washington's lead. Concerted EU action will be difficult because of divisions within the bloc, so piecemeal steps are more likely, they added.

EU members have in recent months said that ties between the EU and Israel depend on the Israeli government's commitment to a two-state solution in the peace process with Palestinians.

Following the three-week-long Operation Cast Lead, diplomatic bodies in a number of European countries called for a freeze on upgrading relations with Israel, citing the pressure of domestic public opinion.

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      1.   Cost 04:33  |  Iain 06/06/09
      2.   Biting off noses as the saying goes 04:47  |  Arie 06/06/09
      3.   Chill out 05:29  |  Farmer John 06/06/09
      4.   So what is the EU waiting for...?! 07:36  |  Esther 06/06/09
      5.   Sanctions will toughen Israel. Stupidity of EU politicians 07:42  |  Liliane 06/06/09
      6.   gee farmer john i had no idea zionist goods were soooo 07:50  |  ho humm 06/06/09
      7.   Arie palestinian produce can go via jordan & egypt 07:59  |  its coming 06/06/09
      8.   Hatred of Jews is easier to develop than liking for Palestinians. 08:18  |  Mario Sala 06/06/09
      9.   Close borders for falsely labeled products. 08:42  |  John 06/06/09
      10.   No such thing as "natural growth" 11:05  |  Natallie Durson 06/06/09
      11.   eu barely breathing 11:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/06/09
      12.   a deja vue from # 2 arie 11:23  |  Axel 06/06/09
      13.   # 3 farmer john 11:25  |  Axel 06/06/09
      14.   Raise tariffs? What cowards. How about a boycott? 12:11  |  peacelover 06/06/09
      15.   Jews hater ? 12:28  |  Toufik 06/06/09
      16.   AXEL`S TOMATOES 16:58  |  Brant 06/06/09
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