The Palestinian government has condemned Israeli statements that threatened the Palestinian Authority of “grave consequences” over its decision to ban calf imports from Israel, and that Israel was going to ban Palestinian produce from its markets in response.
Government’s spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said in a statement yesterday that the government “has the right to diversify its sources of imports, as stipulated in the Paris Economic Agreement, and will continue to seek to replace Israeli products with Arab alternatives.”
Melhem also affirmed the government’s decision to purchase medical services from hospitals in Egypt and Jordan in lieu of those provided by Israeli hospitals.
He said the ban of calf imports from Israel and the decision to halt medical transfers in Israel are part of the government’s plan to economically disengage from the Israeli occupation.
The government’s statement came after the Coordinator of the Israeli Government Activities in the Territories, Kamil Abu Rukun, threatened to ban Palestinian produce from Israeli markets unless the Palestinian Authority ends its boycott of Israeli calves and sheep which began in mid-September.
