EU court: Products manufactured by Israelis in Judea and Samaria aren't Israeli
The court said the EU deal with Israel "applies to the territory of the State of Israel" and the Palestinian one to "the territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."
Each of those two association agreements has its own territorial scope," it said, adding Israeli goods made in the West Bank cannot enjoy duty-free access to the vast EU market.
A source in the Foreign Ministry told Army Radio that the EU ruling "surprised no one," adding that "Israel regrets a decision which authorizes the persecution of Israeli products made in Judea and Samaria and a constitution of the European political campaign against the settlements."
But it is likely to stir Israel, whose military maintains control over the area, its Israeli settlements and Israeli companies there.
The latter can benefit from cheaper labor in the West Bank.
Many of the settlements there use Palestinian workers, who earn less than their counterparts in Israel.
But since Palestinians are largely barred from working in Israel and have few job opportunities in the Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank, jobs in settlement factories are sought after.
The Arabs seem to love cutting off their respective noses to spite their faces. One has to wonder why.
Israel Matzav: EU court: Products manufactured by Israelis in Judea and Samaria aren't Israeli
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