RAMALLAH, Wednesday, December 19, 2018 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Authority (PA) will respond in kind to any step by Israel banning import of Palestinian agricultural products, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Abdallah Lahlouh said on Wednesday.

He told WAFA that the PA has not been officially informed of the Israeli government decision to stop import of vegetables and fruits, but what has happened yesterday and today at commercial crossings, such as Jalameh in the north of the West Bank, proves that such a decision does exist. He said the Israeli authorities refused to allow vegetables into Israel through these crossings.

The Israeli Minister of Agriculture banned import of Palestinian agricultural products after the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture stopped import of sheep from Israel.

Lahlouh said his ministry stopped on December 2 allowing entry into the Palestinian market of live sheep imported by Israelis due to their low price and to protect the Palestinian livestock farmers.

He said this decision was technical and economic to protect a local product and to help farmers earn a good income from their products.

He explained that his ministry took other similar decisions in the past, such as import of potatoes.

Lahlouh said the Ministry of Agriculture is closely studying the Israeli decision and will decide on the next step if it becomes official, explaining however that cucumber and tomatoes are the main two products imported by Israel and therefore the Israeli decision will not have a big impact on the Palestinian market or farmers.

M.K.