Palestine halts fruit and vegetable imports from Israel

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Palestinian government on Thursday suspended all fruit and vegetable imports from Israel, according to Palestine’s WAFA news agency. <br> </p> <p>“The decision was taken in response to Israel’s recent decision to stop importing fruit and vegetables from the [Israeli-occupied] West Bank,” WAFA reported. <br> </p> <p>Last week, Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel ordered a halt to all fruit and vegetable imports from the occupied Palestinian territory. <br> </p> <p>The move came despite warnings from the Israeli intelligence apparatus and civil administration that the Palestinian economy would not be able to withstand such a blow. <br> </p> <p>The West Bank is Israel's primary trade partner, importing some $3.23 billion worth of Israeli goods last year. <br> </p> <p>Ariel attempted to justify his decision by saying that the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry had recently stopped importing sheep from Israel. <br> </p> <p>The Israeli market absorbs roughly 85 percent of all Palestinian exports. <br> </p> <p>According to Palestine’s official statistics agency, Palestine exported some $878 million worth of goods to Israel in 2017.