‘Made in Israel’: Bahrain deals BDS a blow, refuses special labels for Judea and Samaria goods

By Ebin Sandler, World Israel News

Bahrain’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed R. Alzayani told members of the media on Thursday that Bahrain would not distinguish between goods made in Judea and Samaria or the Golan Heights and other Israeli products.

All products of Israel will be treated the same, he specified, rejecting a policy adopted by other countries of treating goods and services from Judea and Samaria or the Golan Heights differently than other Israeli products.

Alzayani added that there would be “no restrictions” or “special rules” for these products, explaining that Bahrain sees Israeli companies in the same light as those from Italy, India, China, Germany, or Saudi Arabia.

Referring to relations with Israel as a “new chapter,” Alzayani appeared to deal a significant blow to entities such as the European Union and the United Nations, which have pursued a labeling policy that ostracizes Israeli goods from Judea and Samaria.

In taking this position, Bahrain complies with U.S. guidelines announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that require labeling all goods emanating from places where Israel maintains civilian control as “Products of Israel” or “Made in Israel.”

The stance announced by Alzayani defies European Union policy, which requires the aforementioned products to carry special labels distinguishing them from other Israeli products.

It is also a blow to the BDS movement, which in addition to seeking wholesale boycotts of the Jewish state also sees flagging the sale of goods from Judea and Samaria as a positive step. Labeling them is seen is a step toward banning them completely.

Recently, Pompeo denounced BDS as inherently “anti-Semitic,” a charge that has dogged the group since its inception.

Similarly, Bahrain’s position flies in the face of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which requires countries to “distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.”

The UN has also published a “blacklist” of companies that do business in Judea and Samaria.

Alzayani arrived in Israel on Tuesday to sign trade, tourism, and commerce agreements, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various cabinet ministers.