RAMALLAH, Wednesday, February 19, 2020 (WAFA) - Minister of National Economy Khaled Osseili and Minister of Agriculture Riyad Atari confirmed today that negotiations are underway with Israel through international mediators to end its ban on the export of Palestinian agricultural products.

This came during their meeting with suppliers and exporters of agricultural products from the West Bank and Gaza Strip at the Ministry of Economy headquarters in Ramallah to discuss the ramifications of the Israeli ban on the Palestinian economy.

The two ministers said, according to a statement by the Ministry of Economy, that the Israeli occupation imposes a system of control and dominance over the Palestinian economy and fabricates crises to pressure the government in order to disrupt its plan of gradual disengagement from the Israeli economy.

“We are proceeding to develop our economy and achieve our vision through expanding the production base, encouraging direct import, developing the national product, and diversifying international markets for the national products,” they said, according to the statement.

The businesspeople stood firm behind the Palestinian government’s decision to ban entry of certain Israeli products into the Palestinian market in response to the Israeli decision.

The Israeli ban went into effect on February 2 and in retaliation the Palestinian government banned entry of Israeli vegetables, fruits, juices, mineral water and carbonated drinks into Palestinian markets.

M.K.