Foxman: Singling out Israel, as in labeling West Bank products, is anti-Semitism

As Germany joins other EU countries backing special designation for settler goods, ADL chief deplores unique focus on Jewish state

By  , TOI, June 2, 2013,

New moves in the EU toward requiring products originating in West Bank settlements to be labeled as such for the European market constitute anti-Semitism, the head of the Anti-Defamation League said Sunday, since they represent “efforts at singling out Israel” when there is no outcry over so many human rights abuses elsewhere.

Speaking amid reports that the German government recently passed legislation in support of the EU labeling scheme, ADL national director Abraham Foxman said Sunday: “If the only country you want to single out is Israel, that’s anti-Semitism.”

Elaborating in an interview with The Times of Israel, Foxman said that if Israel was facing boycott or similar pressures on the basis of alleged human rights abuses along with countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and others, “then I’ll argue that Israel doesn’t belong in such a list, and if I lose the argument, I’ll say you’re misguided. But if the only country you want to label is Israel, that’s anti-Semitism.”

Foxman discounted the notion that the situation in the West Bank was unique and therefore might justify a unique response, arguing that the focus on alleged Israeli human rights abuses relating to settlements was “an excuse to single out Israel.”

Given the dismal human rights situation in so many places worldwide, “where people are being killed for who they are,” he asked, “this is the only concern? Where are the sanctions against those who kill Christians, Muslims, Copts? Where’s the outcry?”

June 2, 2013 | 6 Comments »

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6 Comments / 6 Comments

  1. Produced in Eretz Israel within its ancestral bounderies. That must be the label.

    How about demanding that German products be identified as produced by the former Nazi state? Products of each European country made in towns which either participated or allowed Nazi deportation and murder of Jews must label their products indicating that they participated in the Holocaust.
    Other countris must clearly identify that their country participated in Pogroms, expulsions and Inquisition and that they stole Jewish properties.

  2. @ Ted Belman:
    Foxman is on our side for a change.

    For the wrong reason.

    Anti-Semitism is hating Jews for being Jewish.

    Labelling Setter products may or may not be anti-Semitism; but it is surely not wise.

    But it is not hating Jews for being Jews, but revolves around a secondary question.

  3. @ Ted Belman:
    Foxman’s not on our side. He’s talking about comparing countries human rights records but the Germans aren’t claiming this is about human rights. They’re claiming it isn’t Israeli land. Muslims will be celebrating Ramadan with pork chops before Foxman would call Judea and Samaria Israeli land.

  4. Ted Belman Said:

    Foxman is on our side for a change.

    Don’t worry Ted; he’ll find a way to blame Republicans/Conservatives/Evangelicals/Tea Party Patriots for this, just as he blames everything else on them.