Israeli government supports bill to end live imports of animals from Australia

Controversy arose around the issue of importing live animals for slaughter earlier this year.  Australia TV’s “60 Minutes” featured the unbearable suffering and pain of exhausted and filthy animals during long and hot sea voyages as part of an exposé on the horrid conditions of sheep shipped to the Middle East.

JNS  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Facebook,

“We approved at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation the bill to stop live transports to Israel. It’s our duty to act and correct this enormous suffering caused to animals.”

In light of revelations as to the poor conditions of animals transported to Israel for food, government ministers on Sunday greenlighted a bill that would gradually phase out the import of animals for slaughter in Israel.

The bill would reduce the number of live sheep and calves imported from Australia and Europe by at least 25 percent per year, with a goal of phasing out the practice altogether within three years. Instead, slaughter would take place in the countries of the animals’ origin, and the meat would be imported.