Naftali Bennett pauses all agricultural imports, exports from West Bank
Just last month, dozens of Israeli farmers brought their calves to Bennett's home to protest the decision by the PA to prohibit the import of Israeli calves.
By ZACHARY KEYSERCalf (Illustrative)(photo credit: CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/REUTERS)
Agricultural exports originating from the West Bank will not be permitted through the Allenby crossing, which connects Jordan to the Palestinian territory, effective immediately until further notice, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said Sunday.Defense Minister Naftali Bennett also ordered a stop to agricultural imports from the Palestinian territories into Israel following the boycott of Israeli calves by the Palestinian Authority, which severely affected livestock farmers.Last month, dozens of Israeli farmers brought calves to Bennett’s home to protest the decision by the PA to prohibit the import of Israeli calves. They called on Bennett to intervene in the matter, as Israel has continued to import Palestinian products despite the failure of the PA to reciprocate over the past four months.Bennett came out of his home and spoke with the farmers. The calves they brought grazed in the grass near his home. The farmers said they “don’t have the money to continue to feed them.”“We expect Bennett to act for us,” said Ran Da-Levi, one of the protesters, according to Mako. “We hope that he understands the national and economic significance of the Palestinian ban on Israeli farmers. He has a huge arsenal of tools at hand to stop the ban, but up until now he hasn’t used them.”Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
