The United States began to label Israeli settlement products as “Made in Israel”. Washington claims that this is to mark goods in accordance with import laws and regulations.

US Customs and Border Protection called in a statement for the accuracy of the labeling on products from territories held by Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA), and Gaza to be “consistent with the United States’ foreign policy approach.”

Accordingly, all products made and packaged in the areas which Israel and its military control – including those in the West Bank formerly held by the PA – are to be marked as Israeli-made.

The order requiring goods made in Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank to be labeled as “Made in Israel” has come into effect on Wednesday, as US Customs and Border Protection stated.

It was announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in November following his visit to a West Bank settlement, where he visited a winery.

The new ruling ensures that consumers who want to buy products from the Palestinian territories and not Israel or its settlements can do so more easily. Nevertheless, such labeling gives US legitimacy to the settlements, all of which are illegal under international law.