Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday criticized a South African decision to label products originating in West Bank settlements separately from products made in Israel proper.

Ilana Stein, a spokesperson at the ministry, termed the ruling as "...a very unfortunate decision."

"It borders on racism since the decision is singling out one side of the conflict, out of many other conflicts in the world," Stein told Xinhua.

The ministry on Sunday plans to summon the South African envoy in order to protest against the new policy.

South African Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies last week published an official notice advocating the plan.

"Consumers in South Africa should not be misled into believing that products originating from the OPT (occupied Palestinian territories) are products originating from Israel," the notice said.

The notice stated that South Africa does not recognize the Palestinian territories occupied in the 1967 war as a part of Israel.

"The burden of proving where the products originate will lie with traders," the South African statement said.

Israel's left-wing Meretz party chief Zehava Galon on Sunday supported the South African decision.

"The Israeli government is the only one who is not differing between Israel and the settlements," she said, adding that "I too am not purchasing made-in-settlements products."