Israeli Knesset to ban live imports

ISRAEL’S parliament is debating legislation to phase out all live sheep and cattle imports, despite the appeals of the Australian Government.

Australian live trade to Israel is already on the decline, with Meat and Livestock Australia reporting 2017 exports to Israel dropped by 31,000 to 88,000 and cattle were down to 33,807.

But Australia’s Agriculture Minister David Littleproud travelled to Israel earlier this week to try and convince the Israeli Government a ban was bad for Israelis.

“The live trade can be done by the right people, the right way,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Israel can be assured we’re serious about animal welfare.”

But any attempt to convince the Israeli Parliament of Australia’s good intentions has been undermined by worldwide media coverage of dead and dying heat-stressed sheep on the Awassi Express, during its journey from Fremantle to the Middle East in August last year.

Mr Littleproud said the Australian Government had responded by cutting stocking densities on board live-export ships and placing independent observers on board.

“The live sheep trade is important to our farmers, particularly our West Australian farmers,” Mr Littleproud said.

He said the trip to Israel was important in ensuring the interests of Australian farmers and animal welfare were represented in the debate.

But members of the Israeli Knesset (parliament), and even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara, have called for a ban.

The Knesset already has a bill before it that calls for an immediate 25 per cent cut in live cattle and sheep imports, compared with 2017 levels, with ongoing annual cuts leading to a total ban within three years.