Sweden labels Golan wines: 'Made in occupied Syrian land'

[Behind the Aegis]

Sweden has started to note that wines produced in the Golan Heights originate in "Israel, occupied Syrian land," the Golan Heights Winery has informed the Israeli Embassy in Sweden. Winery sources told Haaretz that the step is unprecedented and worrisome.

The embassy is investigating claims that the warning is being issued for several wines on the Web site of the Swedish government's chain of shops that sell wine. The chain is the only Swedish body permitted to market alcoholic beverages.

Swedish Jews have protested the step, claiming that the new way of listing the wines from the Golan Heights is a political move by a government body. The sources also said such an indication had never been made regarding any other country - not even South Africa during apartheid.


last paragraph...

[Kutjara]

1. Not atypical for Sweden.

There's always some faction or other in the Swedish government that thinks its a good idea to be 'right on' in a sort of wooly-headed 1960s way. Presumably the Minister for Sticking Pointless Labels on Imported Goods is one such unreconstructed hippy. Sweden is also dealing with unprecedented levels of discontent among their Muslim immigrant communities, which is troubling the normally homogeneous nation greatly. This is probably a sop to those interests as well.

I do think it would be more consistent if they'd label California wines as being made in "Occupied Native American Land," though.

[Jim Sagle]

11. 1960s? More like 1930s.

:mad:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Jim, the best things that ever happened to this country

happened in the 30's.

Some call it socialist clap-trap.

Others call it basic human decency.

Chalk me up in the latter group.

[Jim Sagle]

14. I meant 1930s Europe. I agree with you about 1930s America.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. *gulp*

In that case, my post was nothing but horseshit! :cry:

[Stockholm]

35. Exactly what remind you of 1930's?

No really?

[Tom Joad]

64. Simply stating the fact that Israel has occupied Syrian Land is

supposedly anti-semitic.
Go figure.

[Andromeda]

65. No, it's just wrong.

[Quantess]

25. Think about how Swedes view the U.S.

and think about what you just said.
Do you ever reflect on was just said/typed, because it does affect people who may be of Swedish descent. Like me.

What makes it okay for anyone to put-down such an excellent country like Sweden?

[Quantess]

26. Shame on all of you.

You're picking on Sweden? What the fuck is wrong with you?
Sweden / Sverige is the nation the whole world should see as a role model

[rusty charly]

29. then there's this

which i love:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=25&langId=-33&catalogId=10103&cattype=top&identifier=00022_irwtree003

[Scurrilous]

71. Israelis enjoying life in Swedish prison

Three Israelis jailed in Scandinavian country turn down offer to continue serving their sentence in homeland, explain 'here we are treated with steaks, sex and private television airing World Cup games for free'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3261698,00.html

<snip>

"The Israeli prisoners in Sweden are unwilling to hear about a possibility of continuing to serve their sentence in an Israeli prison. The reason: Prisons in the Scandinavian country resemble a five-star hotel.
Israeli prisoners jailed worldwide usually beg authorities to extradite them to Israel in order to continue serving their sentence in their homeland. Despite their pleas, they are usually turned down.

In Sweden, however, it appears that the imprisonment conditions are so good that three Israelis jail there are not even considering leaving. Every prisoner has his own cell with a television airing the World Cup games for free; every six months, the prisoner gets to tour the streets of Stockholm accompanied by a police car; and the highlight – every prisoner has a the right to a three-day conjugal right in a three-room luxury apartment in the prison.

Israel and Sweden have signed an agreement enabling prisoners to serve the rest of their sentences in their homelands.

Jacob Shoshani, the Israeli consul-general to Stockholm, turned to the three Israelis held in the biggest Swedish prison Sodertalje, not far from the Swedish capital, and offered them to sign forms which will enable them to be transferred to an Israeli prison. He was surprised, however, when two of them avoided him and asked him to leave them alone and not bother them."

[Terran1212]

31. Worst straw man EVER (california-syr ia-israel-natives)

I suppose the US occupation of Iraq
too is now completely legitimate because
well we occupied native land many hundreds of years ago (wrongly).

[Zhade]

33. Kind of a flawed analogy, though.

None of those who first occupied Native lands (and killed off my ancestors) are still around, which can't be said of the illegally-held Golan Heights.

[Cha]

39. OMG!

"I do think it would be more consistent if they'd label California wines as being made in "Occupied Native American Land," though."

Occupied Native American and Mexican Land!

[bunyip]

2. Well,

technically, Sweden is scrupulously correct. They don't want to be seen to have recognized an illegal occupation, although they are happy to buy the products...

Hypocritical, really. South Africa invaded its neighbors and practiced apartheid, and was hit with sanctions. Israel does the same, and all they get is relabeled wine and the occasional non-binding UN resolution.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. But here is a legitimate question...

...why the new label now? Syria lost the Golan in '67. What about the illegal occupation of Iraq? Do they label their oil, or other products, "made in occupied Iraq?" What about products from Tibet? Do they have a 'special' label too? I am betting they don't.

So here is the real question, why is Israel being singled out? Israelis know, and so do the Jews.

[bunyip]

5. Israel

is being singled out because they export consumer products to Sweden. When was the last time you saw a Tibetan wine? Or an Iraqi product of any sort.

Israel's human rights record is no worse than China's, North Korea's, Burma's or Sudan's, but for some reason people expect better from white westerners. Aparthied-era South Africa complained about the unfairness, too.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Sweden and China...

Sweden attaches importance to the exploration of Chinese market. Up to 2003, 575 investment projects were concluded, with contracted investment reaching US$1,635 million and the capital actually utilized totaling US$1.298 million. According to incomplete statistics, Sweden has set up about 200 joint-ventures and solely owned companies in China, including Astra (Wu Xi) Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shougang Kanthal Corporation Ltd., Nanjing Ericsson Communication Co. Ltd., Beijing Nankou SKF Railway Bearing Co. Ltd. and IKEA furniture Co. Ltd., etc.

source

He said oil is Iran’s major export item to Sweden. “Oil has accounted for 98.5 percent of Iran’s exports to Sweden so far this year,“ he said, adding that Iran also exports dried fruit, Persian carpets, handicrafts and petrochemicals to that country.

source

Do these imports also bear the label of "occupied/occupier?"

[bunyip]

7. Sucks to be White.

People assume you're civilized, and get all miffed when you show them your not.

Plastic surgery could help.

[Quantess]

27. that's a horrible comment. ALERT

I am shocked to read your comment. I also hope others hit the ALERT button

[wordpix2]

50. is there an alert button, really? And where?

[Quantess]

57. it's on the bottom left of every post

[Stockholm]

32. Because of complaints from customers

And after a legal assessment from the foreign office.

Tibet or Iraq does not produce any wine sold at Systembolaget so as usual your analogies are off.

If part of the progressives want to support www.bojkotta-israel.nu that is their business.

FWIW, South African wines were also boycotted during apartheid.

Let me save you some time: :eyes:

[Behind the Aegis]

41. ...

Then boycott all the products from occupied lands, not just wine. And, hey, if the label is such a big issue, they shouldn't be buying the wine in the first place. It is typical Israel bashing!

[Zhade]

34. "Syria lost the Golan in '67."

To be precise, it was stolen in '67 by the Israeli government.

The timing is a good question, but this...

"So here is the real question, why is Israel being singled out? Israelis know, and so do the Jews."

...if it leads where I suspect, is nonsense, as it is NOT anti-Semitic to point out the fact that the Golan Heights are illegally occupied.

[Behind the Aegis]

42. Wrong!

The Golan were LOST from Syria, who attacked Israel. They could have had it back in 73, but they refused to make peace with Israel!

and, no, it is not anti-Semitic to point out the Golan Heights are occupied, but it is suspicious when it is ONLY Israeli products that get the 'special" label. Why not save the trouble and just mark a big yellow star of David on it!

[Zhade]

48. I wouldn't say it's suspicious. It seems rather obvious.

It may be cynical pandering to the growing Muslim population (though it could be argued that to assume this would please them is itself a bit racist against Muslims), but anti-Semitic, no.

As far as "They could have had it back in 73", it shouldn't have been seized in the FIRST place, even in a defensive war on Israel's part. International law makes it clear that seizure of land in war is not allowed.

[Behind the Aegis]

51. Do you know anything about that war?

Do you know why the land was seized? What the international community had to say about it? To think that Israel can go to war, then just slink back once they defeat their enemies and freely give them the same attack grounds again, would lead to perpetual war.

[Zhade]

53. I never said it was easy.

And, at the risk of this getting dragged to the dungeon - Israel does bring a lot of anger on itself.

NOT ALL OF IT. But a lot, in its treatment of the Palestinians.

I don't condone the violence on either - all? - sides, but let's not pretend Israel is totally innocent here.

(I freely confess to not knowing as much as I could about the '67 war - a situation I don't think will be remedied by partisans of either side.)

[rayofreason]

56. "seizure of land in war is not allowed."

Really?

Who says? Since when? The UN? As in the UN that after WWII approved the USSR land heist of eastern Poland (which they originally got in the deal with Hitler) and compensated Poland with German land creating millions of refugees and the biggest european movement of peoples since the end of the Roman Empire? Or the UN that has done such a marvelous job with little corners of the world like Tibet?

While in general most states currently hold that territorial grabs are not to be recognized de jure (a position I support), facts are made on the ground and in wars losers lose for real. And what the Arabs have lost in several wars of extermination against Israel will not be handed back without something real in return - such as the clear acceptance that Isreal will not be destroyed and the Jews will not be pushed into the sea. Many Arabs, especially the Palestinians, are not there yet. By the way, I do find it interesting that Prussian "resistance fighters" don't walk into Polish and Russian pizza parlors and blow themselves up demanding the return of Gdansk (Danzig) and Kaliningrad (Koenigsburg).

On the other hand, how long will it be before we hear reference to "Occupied Malmo"? In the not too distant future I fear that the Swedes will learn first-hand what it means to lose for real. Poltava will fade in comparison.

[Scurrilous]

58. "seizure of land in war is not allowed."

"Since when?"

Refresh my memory. What was the Gulf War about again?

[Walt Disney]

4. Illegal...? If Israel had taken the Golan Heights without being provoked,

I would agree.

[xchrom]

8. mickey mouse.

[Walt Disney]

19. Bugs Bunny

[JerseygirlCT]

9. That does seem to be the piece of this always conveniently ignored

Israel was attacked. Fought back, and against the odds, won. In the process, secured some of the territory of one of the countries attacking it.

If we were to proclaim all territory taken during war was occupied territory, we'd spend a great deal of time re-drawing maps. Geez, imagine how many times we'd have to re-draw Europe?

[Walt Disney]

18. You make an excellent point.

At one or another, just about every segment of land on the planet was taken from someone. Even those who are native to North and South America emigrated across the Aleutian land bridge.

[JerseygirlCT]

20. Thanks. I'm just wondering what the statute of limitations is on that

50 years?

100? 200?

There seems to be a good deal of hypocrisy about the issue.

[Zhade]

36. It's STILL illegally-occupied.

Your argument is flawed, because the CURRENT rules of international law state that land cannot be seized and kept via war, even defensive war.

[Behind the Aegis]

45. What is flawed is that Syria refuses to negotiate. n/t

[Zhade]

46. Hard to blame them. Why should they negotiate to regain stolen land?

I mean, ideally, yes, but Syria is in the RIGHT on this one. I know that's difficult to accept, but Israel is not always in the right.

I'd like them all to negotiate, but it's not ethical to argue that Syria should have to neogtiate to regain land stolen from their country.

[Behind the Aegis]

49. They should have to negotiate.

The reason the GH were taken was because Syria was firing into Israel from there. Israel took the land and wanted a DMZ. This would allow for defensible borders...Syria doesn't want that! I hate to spoil your fun, but Israel is not always wrong, nor is she the root of all evil in the ME.

[Zhade]

52. Fun? This isn't fun.

Fun is me, sitting at home, :smoke: playing Guitar Hero and not dignifying these kinds of presumptions of my character with responses.

But, since - believe it or not! - I actually like and respect you, I'll continue: Israel still had no right to take the land, EVEN IF THERE WAS A GOOD REASON. It was not their land to take.

If Iran were to start lobbing shells into Iraq at U.S. soldiers, would it be right for the U.S. to seize part of Iran?

(Hint: international law says "no").

I don't argue that Syria is perfect. I don't argue that Israel is always wrong; never have, in fact, to my recollection. A DMZ is worth discussing. But the fact remains that Israel has no right to the Golan Heights. None.

Except, of course, in the "possession is 9/10ths of the law" sense.

That's the totality of my argument.

[pelsar]

59. intl law?

land used to attack can be seized and held if the attacker is "not done attacking"

fact is in 1973 syria attacked israel...hence israel had every right to keep the golan. And since 73 was a surprise attack, and since there is no peace treaty between syrian and israel (as in israel and egypt) israel has every right to hang on to the golan...least it be used again for an attack upn israel.

that is very legal...and infact common sense.

[Behind the Aegis]

61. OK Zhade...

I have had some time to think. I am not in a foul mood anymore. When I was posting yesterday, I was in a really bad mood and that tends to temper how I respond to people.

Let me say this: there seems to be a problem with what is happening in the GH. People think that the GH is "annexed," and not "occupied." There is a difference between the two words. A land cannot be annexed, even in a defensive war, but nothing prevents it from being occupied. The reason that the GH are still under Israeli control is because the Syrians refuse to negotiate. The GH is a strategic area. It is where Syria has launched numerous wars against Israel.

In your other posts (rather than answering them all, I am consolidating), you say you are not alarmed or amused...nor am I. I am not alarmed, but I am cautious. The purge against us starts out slowly. You also say that some of the anger against Israel is "deserved." To me, this is akin to saying that a rape victim was "asking for it" because of the way she/he was dressed. Ask yourself, why was Israel created?

I get so angry here because I see people bashing Israel for things that other nations do as routine, but Israel is supposed to refrain. People assume that Israel is supposed to be some paragon of virtue, as opposed to a troubled nation. I think people, especially Westerners, would have a different outlook if their neighbors were constantly on the attack. We live in the US...Canada imports cheap drugs, Mexico, cheap labor...neither imports people who blow themselves up at the local Wal-mart or Starbucks! Israel stands alone in that area.

Israel is not above comment, it is just that sometimes, those comments need to be challenged and placed into perspective.

[pelsar]

60. syria is still at war....

there is no peace treaty with israel..just a cease fire, hence the war is in fact still on (as it was between 67 and 73).....so the land is legally within israeli rights....

[grassfed]

37. israel not attacked in 67

pre-emptive strike by israel based on false intel.

[PCIntern]

38. Quoting Al-Jazeera I suppose...

Believe me, there were armies massed at the borders ready to go; the fact that the Arabs couldn't get their acts together and lost is a real blow, isn't it? Just imagine if they'd bee a little more efficient....then it would have been all right to invade a sovereign state and destroy it and the populus. Just like it is for the Bush Administration to invade Iraq and kill civilians.

And murder the civilians en masse they would have - it would have completed what Hitler did not.

[Zhade]

47. That's a little thin for me to make a judgment.

I'd need, you know, links. Facts. This is just an assertion, it does nothing to advance the argument.

[Andromeda]

66. Horse hockey!

[DBoon]

10. And do they label California wines

"Made in Occupied Mexico"?

[Andromeda]

67. Not yet, but it won't be long....

:freak:

[HuffleClaw]

12. hhehehheheheee

pretty silly.

[StevieM]

16. Israel had been siphoning water off from the Golan Heights

they were no innocent. Not to mention there joining the British and French in 56 to prevent the nationalizing of the Suez. Israel has had plenty of chances to make peace with their neighbors--they don't want it--they want to kick ass.

Steve

[Hardrada]

17. As Winston Churchill said about the nations made out out of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire, "Not one of them escaped the fate that medieval theologians reserved for the damned." That seems to apply to the countries of the "Middle East" as well at the present time or in the future that the unholy combination of PNACERS and Jihadists plan.

[Andromeda]

69. Not a lot of people on this forum

really get that connection, Hardrada. There are really no clean hands and political correctness will not wash them clean.

[Zhade]

21. Is it not true?

Protesting about this is akin to Pilgrims protesting about Native Americans bitching about their stolen land.

Get over it, guys. Or you could, you know, leave the land you don't rightfully own. Make a choice.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. If peace were as easy to make as a flip comment...

...we'd all be singing "Kumbaya."

[Zhade]

23. Still doesn't change the fact that Israel's in the wrong on this one.

NT!

[Behind the Aegis]

44. No, but it all doesn't change the fact...

...that once again, Israel is singled out! Of course, most people find that amusing.

[Zhade]

54. "Some people" doesn't include me.

I'm not amused OR alarmed by this.

[Quantess]

24. What the fuck are you trying to suggest about Sweden? n/t

[PCIntern]

28. Excellent Question, well phrased...

Let's have a poll here, who thinks that if, for the sake of argument, the Pan-Arab nations had rolled in Tel Aviv in 67 or 73 or for that matter, now, that they would not have literally bathed themselves in blood of Jews, much the same way as those who killed those Israeli soldiers who go off the beaten track as it were, and were mauled, kicked, and beaten so badly that they were unrecognizable, and those who did so showed the blood all over their own arms as though they had made an animal sacrifice?

It would have been, and would still be wholesale slaughter and utter genocide and then who would be cluck clucking away at the Jews who deserved it for their 'occupation'.

Face it, it the Jews were given Mars instead of Palestine, everyone would be showing up there saying it was their 'homeland'. Let's have another poll: what do you think Israel would look like in 50 years if all the Jews suddenly went -POOF- and disappeared? Land of milk and honey? I think not.

[Andromeda]

70. Nobody is putting down Sweden per se...

From what I hear it's a great country---my father's mother was from Sweden.

This whole argument is about "powers that be" and how far they will go to be politically correct to appease its population. The actions of a few do not condemn the entire country.

[Quantess]

72. What I meant was,

It seems to me as though the OP is suggesting that Swedes are anti-semitic, which is completely uncalled for.

Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps the label is meant to be informative as to the region? Wines are commonly labeled by their origin. Burgundy is both a wine and a place. So is Champagne. U.S. wines almost always specify where they are from, exactly.

[Behind the Aegis]

73. Is "OP" "original post?"

On edit: And out of curiousity, how did you arrive at, "It seems to me as though the OP is suggesting that Swedes are anti-semitic, which is completely uncalled for.?"

[Quantess]

74. Read it any way you wish

OP can either mean original post or original poster.

Well, that's how it looked to me at the time, but, I could be overreacting. So if that isn't what you implied, I will graciously go on my merry way.

This is clearly more important an issue to you than it is to me.

Have you considered the second paragraph of my post, about consumers being interested in the region where the wine is from?

[Terran1212]

30. Gay Hebrew?! (and the sticker is right)

What exactly is your icon supposed to mean?


And the sticker is informing people of something true by international law. I think more products should inform people of the political circumstances surrounding them.

[Behind the Aegis]

43. Gay Jew.

That is what the icon is.

And the sticker is a bunch of bullshit.

[Andromeda]

68. And what sticker would you use

to let people know of your political persuasion?

[brentspeak]

40. Talk about your self-flagellating, Euro-liberal guilt trip

My guess is that the Swede who came up with this bogus, hyper-PC idea has never even travelled to the Middle East.

[rayofreason]

55. Chateau Mouton Rothschild

Made in occupied Gaul.

[nedbal]

62. I HAVE items that are marked "Made in Occupied Japan" standard markings

since the 1920's when country of origin was required. The use of the word "Occupied" has been used many times that I've seen on my antique collectibles.

so that source is incorrect in stating "such an indication had never been made regarding any other country ""

[Scurrilous]

63. The politics of wine (March 16th, 2006)

Activists boycott Israeli wine

<snip>

"Like coffee and chocolate, wine is political. Canadian liquor boards market wine from over 50 countries, and in the late '80s South African wines were yanked from shelves as part of sanctions aimed at forcing that country to end apartheid.

Now, two decades later, a Montreal human rights coalition is hoping to replicate the South Africa campaign's success by appealing to oenophiles - and Quebec's liquor monopoly - to put the cork on an Israeli producer.

The Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine (CJPP) has chosen the Golan Heights Winery as its first target in an expanding boycott that will focus primarily on Israeli business in the occupied territories.

For CJPP spokesperson Marc Tétrault, the issue is accountability. "The Canadian government has a policy that says these territories are occupied." (The Golan Heights is a piece of land settled and administered by Israel since its capture from Syria in 1967.)

According to Tétrault, the campaign comes as an answer to an appeal made last July by 170 Palestinian and Israeli peace groups, calling for sanctions and divestment as a pressure tactic to end discriminatory practices against Israeli Arabs, and to promote an Israeli withdrawal from Palestine. CJPP works with sister groups in Toronto, the U.K. and Norway, and has circulated a petition that has gathered 5,000 signatures asking the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) to cancel purchases from Golan."

http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8648