The bill backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is supposed to gradually phase out the import of animals for slaughter in Israel.
Israel may end the imports of live animals – sheep and cattle – from Australia and Europe if a new bill proposed by the government will be enforced.
In light of revelations as to the poor conditions of animals transported to Israel for food, the government wants to gradually phase out the imports of livestock by at least 25% per year, with a goal of phasing out the practice altogether within three years, reports Jewish News Syndicate portal.
The government proposal follows a scandal related to the death of thousands of Australian sheep on their way to the Middle East. At the beginning of this month, 228 lawyers signed a petition calling for a halt to live shipments. In May, 60 senior rabbis signed a letter stating that it was “neither the way of the Torah nor of human morality to allow such cruelty to animals.”
