The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry is urging Israeli palm farmers to
significantly increase the number of lulavs provided for sale for the holiday of
Succot, in order to meet the upcoming demand, after it became clear to the
ministry that export of palm fronds from the Sinai would become completely
prohibited, a statement from the ministry said on Sunday.
The expected
demand of lulavs this season is around 600,000-700,000, and in the face of
potential shortage, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Orit Noked
pleaded with her Egyptian counterpart Yousef Farag in early August to release
palm fronds for export, according to the ministry.
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Thousands attend funeral for 11 burnt Torah scrolls Succot from around the world Farag, however, has
refused to export palms from the Sinai until the end of 2011, a decision that
will also sorely affect the Jewish communities in both North America and Europe,
the ministry said.
“As a result of current circumstances, the ministry
encourages and advises palm growers in Israel to increase the number of lulavs
that will be supplied for the holiday,” Noked said in the statement.
“At
the same time, the office will promote additional import alternatives, in order
to enable everyone to perform the required Succot observance.”
Licenses
to import palm fronds from Spain, Jordan and Gaza have been issued, but it is
not yet known whether import will actually occur from these places, the ministry
added.