Egypt bans export of palm fronds ahead of Jewish holiday of Sukkot

[King_David]

Agriculture Ministry to issue special licenses allowing import of lulavs from Spain, Jordan and the Gaza Strip, so that no major shortage is experienced in the run-up to the holiday.
By Amiram Cohen

Egypt has barred the export of palm fronds - used ceremonially in the upcoming Sukkot holiday - to Israel and to Jewish communities abroad, the Agriculture Ministry has learned.

The move by the Egyptian government comes just weeks before the fall holiday when the lulavs are in demand. In the past, Israel has imported about 700,000 palm fronds a year prior to Sukkot, representing about 40 percent of the total demand for them every year here.

In addition, about 700,000 of the 2 million lulavs purchased in Jewish communities in the Diaspora, primarily in North America and Europe, normally come from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian Agriculture Ministry said the ban would be in effect until the end of 2011.

Israel's Agriculture Ministry will issue special licenses to allow the import of lulavs from Spain, Jordan and the Gaza Strip, so that no major shortage is experienced in the run-up to the holiday. The ministry will require that palm fronds coming into the country be inspected to prevent the spread of plant disease.


http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/egypt-bans-export-of-palm-fronds-ahead-of-jewish-holiday-of-sukkot-1.385247

[King_David]

1. So we (Jews worldwide) can get them from Gaza but not Egypt?

:wtf:

[msongs]

2. alternative sources are available so egypt is just hurting its farmers (palm growers are farmers?) n

[shira]

3. Ahhh, that wonderful Arab Spring! n/t

[holdencaufield]

4. More like Arab puberty NT