Only a very small part of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, and not the entire city, has been defined as beyond the Green Line by the European Union, the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel stressed on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the EU published a list of localities brought under Israeli administration since June 1967, which are ineligible for tax breaks on exports to EU member countries. Three zip codes in the municipality of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut appeared on the list for the first time. Israel's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday published an irate statement blasting the EU and saying it "ignores reality when it extends the domain of conflict to places and issues that do not belong there." A statement issued by the Delegation clarified, "On the basis of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, all manufactured goods and nearly all agricultural goods are imported into the EU from Israel free of customs duties. However, customs duties need to be paid for goods produced in Israeli localities beyond the Green Line. Since 2004, an arrangement between the EU and Israel has been in place which clarifies, by means of zip codes, those localities that cannot benefit from customs exemptions ... In order to ensure full implementation of this arrangement and to create greater transparency and legal certainty for EU importers, the European Commission published, in August 2012, a notice for EU importers with an updated list of these zip codes. This will make it easier for EU importers to determine whether customs duties need to be paid or not." Only "three zip codes 71724, 71728 and 71799 that correspond to the small part of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut that is situated beyond the Green Line," are on the list according to the statement which emphasizes, "in contrast to the statement published by the MFA [Israel's Foreign Ministry] on 14 August, Modiin-Maccabim-Reut is not included in its entirety in this list." The Foreign Ministry had also claimed that by publishing the list, the EU unacceptably cut off a negotiating process. However, the EU stated Wednesday, "the publication of this notice does not require negotiations. However, prior to its publication, the EU, in accordance with the 2004 Arrangement, extensively consulted with the Israeli government and its suggestions have been taken into account as far as possible." The EU also pledged to "recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders" once agreed in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. A Foreign Ministry official told Israel Hayom on Wednesday in response, "The EU's statement is a collection of technocratic formulations and bland word play
The Europeans should just come out and say loudly and clearly that Modiin-Maccabim-Reut is not a settlement, plain and simple. But it seems as though the EU simply isn't able to speak clearly and prefers complications and contortions when it comes to Israel and other issues."
