Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday that Israel would now allow Palestinian agricultural exports, in a move to defuse the escalating trade crisis that had heightened tensions between both sides.
Bennet said this came after Palestinians began accepting Israeli beef.
The Palestinian agriculture ministry also announced the immediate import of "livestock, including calves" as well as "all products and commercial goods from all countries of the world without obstacles".
"This came after a series of direct and indirect discussions through international parties, which resulted in Israel retracting its illegal measures," the ministry said in a statement late Wednesday, AFP reported.
The trade crisis erupted in September, when the Palestinians decided to stop importing beef from Israel.
The Palestinian Authority claimed most of the 120,000 head of cattle they imported monthly from Israel was itself imported and that they therefore preferred to import directly from abroad. The move appeared aimed at reducing the Palestinians’ economic dependence on Israel.
Shortly after the September announcement, Israeli cattle ranchers saw a drop in their market and pressured Israeli authorities to take action, according to the Associated Press.
Bennett responded with a ban on Palestinian beef and other products, which pushed the Palestinians to expand their boycott, and stop importing Israeli vegetables, fruits, beverages and mineral water.
The Palestinians said their actions are aimed at pressuring Israel into revoking its ban, while Israel said normal trade would be restored the moment the Palestinians reverse the cattle ban that sparked the crisis.
