In retaliation for being forced to accurately label some goods being produced in occupied Palestine, Israel announced over the weekend that it would suspend the European Union's role in the moribund peace process.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said it was ordered to carry out "a reassessment of the involvement of EU bodies in everything that is connected to the diplomatic process with the Palestinians," according to Reuters .
Last month, the European Commission published guidelines requiring some products – mainly agricultural – produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories to be labeled as coming from settlements instead of "Made in Israel."
The EU, along with the United Nations, the U.N. Security Council, the International Court of Justice and even Israel's top ally, the United States, consider the settlements illegal under international law.
Israel has long refused to negotiate any land settlement with Palestine from its recognized, pre-1967 borders, insisting instead that Palestine offer concessions if it is to receive any of the occupied territory back.
Attempts to restart the peace process are often led by the "Quartet," which consists of the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union. Despite more than 50 official meetings, a "road map to peace" and numerous initiatives, the Quartet has accomplished little to nothing since it was formed in 2002, leaving Israel's rejection of the EU role relatively meaningless.