The European Union has released an updated list of Israeli communities behind the Green Line; those areas viewed in the West Bank and as such, areas that do not enjoy duty free status for their goods being imported into EU countries.

Amazingly, the updated list, which is based on community zip codes, includes 71724, 71728 and 71799, portions of Modi’in, Maccabim and Reut, communities that are undisputedly inside Green Line Israel. The geographical realities of the communities involved do not seem to interest EU decision-makers as protests from MPs and NGOs have fallen on deaf ears. That means that exports to the EU from these communities are now in the same category as exports from the “West Bank” and other “occupied areas” as defined by the European Union.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released the following response to the EU decision:

“There is not the slightest doubt that the Modi’in, Maccabim and Reut localities are an integral part of Israel. The EU ignores reality when it extends the domain of conflict to places and issues that do not belong there.

“For anyone who deals in reality, there is not the slightest doubt that the Modi’in, Maccabim and Reut localities are an integral part of Israel, and their future is not in question.

“The EU ignores reality when it extends the domain of conflict to places and issues that do not belong there. As for the other locations mentioned in the EU list, the European approach, though not new, is not acceptable in Israel’s view, and it is being addressed through ongoing diplomatic engagement.

“Remarkably, by the unilateral publication of the locations list on the internet, the EU has unacceptably cut off a negotiating process regarding this very issue. This action, conducted ‘ex abrupto’, has therefore been the object of an official protest lodged by the Mission of Israel in Brussels to the European Union.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)