The Palestinian Authority’s Office of the Interior has issued an official announcement which forbids the purchase of Israeli-made food products by Palestinian traders and importers. Palestinians import from Israel a wide range of food products estimated at £75m per year. Traders who try to “bypass the boycott” by purchasing Israeli food products if alternative products are also produced by local Palestinian companies, are liable to be persecuted.
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Oded Tirah, President of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, said the announcement “violates all the signed agreements between the two parties.” He added that Israel’s total export to the Palestinian Authority amounts to US$600m per year, while the Palestinian Authority export to Israel amounts to nearly US$475m per year, mainly fresh produce items. Trade sources in Tel Aviv commented that this development is likely to hamper the continued efforts to build sound economic relations between the two parties “and also has implications on the political process.”
By Aaron Priel, just-food.com correspondent
