Israeli cattle growers want action against Palestinian boycott

There is a prevailing feeling among Israeli cattle growers that the boycott is motivated by a desire to help the business interests of cronies of PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

By World Israel News Staff 

Israeli farmers are asking for government assistance in combating a Palestinian Authority (PA) boycott over recent weeks, reports Israel Hayom.

The boycott is said to be affecting the export of beef, in particular.

The farmers argue that the boycott constitutes a violation of the 1994 Paris Accords, which enshrines the economic side of the Oslo process on Palestinian self-rule, which began the year before.

The Paris agreements ensured free passage of goods across the boundaries between Israeli and PA territory.

Beef exports from Israel to the Palestinian territories are estimated at some 700 million shekels annually, according to the newspaper. However, the PA reportedly has decided to close border crossings and stop the flow of Israeli goods.

The Israel Farmers Association says that the livelihood of about 500 families and thousands of workers is at stake. The financial loss is said to be hundreds of millions of shekels to the Israeli economy, in general, and the farmers, in particular, says the daily.

Last year, the PA carried out a smaller-scale boycott of lamb imports from Israel. Israel reacted with a counter-boycott, says Israel Hayom, and the two sides ultimately reached an agreement.

Israeli beef cattle growers are said to be expressing disappointment that the government has not officially responded to the current Palestinian boycott.

The newspaper report says that there is a prevailing feeling among Israeli growers that the boycott is motivated by a desire to help the business interests of cronies of PA President Mahmoud Abbas who are involved in the beef business.

The Israeli farmers reportedly are angry that not only is the government remaining quiet over the PA boycott, it is also allowing the Palestinians to seek out other sources of imports and continuing to provide various veterinary services to the PA, which allows the boycott to go on without repercussions to the Palestinian growers.