| Lulav Shortage Feared, Egypt Uncooperative | | |
 | | Mivtza Lulav |
(ynet) Knesset Member Shaul Yahalom (National Religious Party) has asked the foreign and agriculture ministries to intervene on behalf of the observant community, following the refusal of Egypt's ministry of agriculture to sell palm branches to Israel.
The branches, called lulavs in Hebrew, are required for a religious rite during the week-long holiday of Succot that begins in just over a month.
Yahalom told Ynet, "A million lulavs are sold in Israel each year, and we provide tens of thousands more to Jewish communities around the world."
He said most lulavs in Israel come from the el-Arish area of Sinai, and that the refusal of Egyptian authorities to sell palm branches from the area will create a severe shortage in Israel as the holiday approaches.
"The shortage could prevent many people from fulfilling their religious obligations, and cause a dramatic rise in the price of lulavs," said Yahalom.
One of the largest lulav importers in Israel told Ynet the lulav market in Israel is in a "panic" because of the Egyptian decision, but spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harming his ties with the Egyptians.
"The Egyptians are not selling lulavs because instructions have come down from a new official in the agriculture ministry claiming the process of cutting the branches harms the palm trees in el-Arish," he said.
"I've got a different story from my contact in Egypt every day. There is terrible disinformation, and we hope to find solution and will be able to market the lulavs as usual.
Israeli importers usually pay one dollar per lulav, and last year Israeli consumers paid NIS 35-40 (USD 7.70-8.80) per lulav.
Particularly beautiful specimen! s can fetch up to NIS 100 -150 (USD 22.00-33.00) per lulav.
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