Israel halts meat exports to Europe over boycott

The Israeli ministry of agriculture has decided to halt its meat exports to Europe and sell them instead in local markets and other places in the world, as a result of the EU’s boycott of Israeli settlements, Haaretz said Sunday.

The EU’s decision came after the High Commission found out that the Israeli meat factory, Auf Tof, gets poultry from suppliers in the Jordan Valley settlements.

According to a senior Israeli source quoted by Haaretz, the ministry of agriculture’s decision came in the aftermath of new sanctions by the European Commission which would make it difficult to export meat supplied from settlements to EU countries.

The European Commission had decided on 17 February to follow new regulations that stipulate the non-recognition of Israeli veterinary services when it comes to meat products originating from settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

The Israeli official said that the ministry of agriculture has conducted a review which revealed that settlements in the Jordan Valley supply Auf Tof factory with poultry, leading to fears that all the factory’s products are not eligible for exports to the EU.

Haaretz added that Israelis fear that the halt in meat exports will be followed by a halt in fish exports to the EU.