CAIRO: In what appears to be the latest move by the Egyptian government to emphasize the divide between Egypt and Israel, the export of palm fronds to Israel and other Jewish communities around the world, has been banned, according to the Israel's Agriculture Ministry. This move comes a few weeks prior to the celebration of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday in which palm fronds are used ceremoniously. During Sukkot, Jews are encouraged to live in simple shelters to remember the plight of the Israelites when they wandered the desert for 40 years. Prior to the ban, Israel had imported 700,000 palm fronds, approximately 40 percent of their demand for the holiday, from Egypt. Another 700,000 palm fronds exported worldwide to Jewish communities originate from the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian Agriculture Ministry has also said the ban will remain in effect until the end of 2011. Special licenses will be issued by the Israeli Agriculture Ministry to allow for imports of palm fronds from Spain, Jordan and the Gaza Strip in order to prevent any shortages leading up to the holiday. The palm fronds will be inspected upon entering the country to prevent the spread of plant diseases. In addition, the Agriculture Minister Orit Noked, has said the ministry will encourage domestic date farmers to greatly boost their supply in order to provide the palm fronds at a reasonable price to the Israeli public. Israeli date growers have already mentioned they have no intention of hiking the prices of their goods beyond the labor costs incurred. In 2010, palm fronds cost roughly $27. No official reason has been given by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture for the ban, yet it seems this is a product of recent rising tensions between both countries. Recently, the Israeli Embassy in Cairo was stormed by protesters who wanted the Israeli ambassador removed from Egypt. The Egyptian ambassador, Yasser Reda, was also summoned in Israel to explain Egyptian Prime Minister's comments last week regarding the peace treaty between both nations as not being “sacred.” BM
