THOUSANDS OF ISRAELI FARMERS PROTEST ACROSS COUNTRY AGAINST AGRICULTURAL REFORMS

Thu 29 July 2021:

Thousands of Israeli farmers protested a change announced by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture last week by staging rallies and blocking major intersections across the country on Thursday, xinhua reported.

The two ministries decided to conduct the biggest reform in the agricultural section in the last 30 years, aiming to reduce consumer prices of fruits, vegetables, eggs and other products.

The reform, which is recommended by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, is expected to increase competition by reducing import taxes.

Prices of fruits and vegetables in recent years have jumped by more than 80 percent on average in Israel. The new plan is thus expected to save 2.7 billion shekels (830 million U.S. dollars) per year for Israeli consumers.

Despite a broad support package including tax benefits, cost reductions and grants for innovation, the Israeli farmers’ organizations claim that the plan will severely harm the farmers financially, adding that the suppliers, mainly supermarket chains, are those responsible for the high prices

Meetings held on Wednesday between the ministries and the farmers did not yield agreements, leading to the protest, in which the farmers used tractors, tools and agricultural products to block the roads.

Israel’s Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that “throwing eggs, fruits, and vegetables on the roads while blocking them will not benefit consumers and will not lead to an increase in production and consumption.”

Agriculture Minister Oded Forer said he would immediately open the egg market to tax-free imports, following information he received, according to which farmers plan to sabotage the egg supply ahead of the Jewish holidays to be marked in September.

FILE PHOTO

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