Jerusalem – Knesset Approves Taxation on Non-Kosher Meat

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    FileJerusalem – The Knesset on Wednesday voted into force an ordinance, first revealed by Ynet in February, which sets tax rates on non-kosher types of meat that are already forbidden from being imported to Israel.

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    Following a heated debate, twenty five MKs voted in favor, while 16 opposed the ordinance, which was initiated by MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) and includes meats from horses, donkeys, whales, dolphins, seals, and walruses and more.

    “The State of Israel has been violated as a Jewish state. Jews died in the name of god because they refused to eat non kosher meat. Here we have a discounted import of reptiles and carcasses – signed by Rabbi Gafni,” said MK Arieh Eldad (National Union).

    MK Ronnie Bar-On (Kadima) discarded the discussion and said mockingly, “Importing heroin to Israel was also forbidden – does that mean we need to set a tax on it? It’s as though we set a tax on importing biological weapons, just in case. This ordinance is abominable.”

    MK Ilan Ghilon (Meretz) also made a tongue in cheek comment and asked, “I eat whatever has four legs. What if they bring a worm – without the apple? Will I not be able to import it?”

    MK Meir Sheetrit (Kadima) was perplexed by the haredi factions’ decision to support the ordinance. “Have you gone insane? How do you approve such a thing? I am willing to go to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, so he can explain to me why members of his faction support such an ordinance,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Shas members expressed satisfaction over the heated discussion. “I am glad to know that the plenum is united in its objection to eat white meat. The days of the Messiah are here,” said MK Nissim Zeev.

    “I expect anyone who is here to preach us to first declare he is against eating pork. In any case, a pig is a pig, and the fate of a pig from Israel is just the same as one that is imported from abroad,” said Zeev.

    In a rare occurrence, MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al) Joined sides with MK Zeev and said, “our Sages of Blessed Memory did not know the difference between a pig with a foreign passport and an Israeli one.”

    The ordinance initiator, MK Moshe Gafni also joined his Shas counterparts and said, “It is encouraging that the Knesset is united against importing non kosher meat.”


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    18 Comments
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    murray
    murray
    14 years ago

    Tax the heck out of it, make it prohibitive to indulge, and if you insist…………like cigarettes-same deal. Just like some folks have found an incentive to quit smoking because of the high cost (which is mostly tax), so it should be with this. I spoke to one guy who just loves donkey meat hamburghers, he said if this goes through he is going to make the switch to cows. Unfortunately another acquaintance of mine insists that he will Not give up his Walrus and chips dinner, no matter what the cost.

    Lost soul in Seagate
    Lost soul in Seagate
    14 years ago

    I understand that I should Not be eating horsemeat (sorry, its all i can afford), but why include Dolphin? My Rabbi assured me that these creatures are kosher fish-the fins and scales?

    Paskunyak
    Paskunyak
    14 years ago

    Is there kosher schechted fleish in any arab country? There should be no treif in EY.
    Yidden are already ‘taxed’ around the world for kosher, one way or another. It would be no big deal for a goy to pay a little more for his chazer fleish. The law should read that it should be a criminal offense to BUY treif food products including meat, chazer products, pornography including child pornography, heroin, cocaine, and other non prescription dangerous drugs and cigarettes in EY or import said products.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    There should be a law enacted that is severe enough to prevent the import of these ‘davar acher’ and other abominable meats, and should be forcefully enforced!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    It looks like Haredim want to protect local manufacturers of non kosher meat from competion from abroad. Why else they would create a barrier to import?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Imposing such a tax on imported pork products that does not apply equally to domestic pork would risk violating Israel’s obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement and could result in trade sanctions against Isreali agricultural exports in the U.S., EU, Australia and Latin America. This is much more important that some politician’s sensibilities about treifus.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    If you ban pork only criminals would have pork. Or was that guns?

    shmeker
    shmeker
    14 years ago

    I agree 101% with paskunyak (3) if there were more people like him israel would be a better place to live.ahh kushera peasach.

    Jewish 1st
    Jewish 1st
    14 years ago

    and what about all the treif (non Jewish) wine that is imported into israel

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    There isn’t enough tax money they can take for bringing in treife meat to Eretz Hakodesh. It is a disgrace. For those who want treifus, let them leave – there is the rest of the world for them! Whenever they get the urge for their non-kosher foods, let them take a vacation.