Israeli settlements face 'harsh' Europe boycott: report

The US and European-backed boycott of South Africa forced the fall of the former whites-only regime; the current Iran boycott has forced signs of change in that country's foreign policy. Now Israel faces similar pressure as its West Bank settlement businesses lose revenues to another growing boycott, reports the Associated Press here:

"An international campaign to boycott Israeli settlement products has rapidly turned from a distant nuisance into a harsh economic reality for Israeli farmers in the West Bank's Jordan Valley...  Export-driven income of growers in the valley's 21 settlements dropped by more than 14 percent, or $29 million, last year," mostly because British and other north European-owned supermarket chains "are increasingly shunning the area's peppers, dates, grapes and fresh herbs, settlers say," forcing them to sell in Eastern Europe and Russia "for up to 40% less...

"Israel has played down the impact of the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions launched by Palestinian activists in 2005 to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied lands... [But] Israeli supporters of a land-for-peace deal with the Palestinians have warned that Israel could face a snowballing boycott of the magnitude that brought down apartheid in South Africa if it rebuffs proposals Kerry is to present in coming weeks...

"The European Union says Israel's settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem are illegal under international law, but has not called for a consumer boycott of settlement products."