Israel Set to Be First Nation to Ban the Fur Trade

Israel is set to ban the fur trade, becoming the first country in the world to do so. While there are some cities that have banned the fur trade, most notably São Paulo in Brazil along with the state of California in the US, this would be the first such ban on a national level.

The plans were announced by Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel, who slammed the practice of buying and selling skin and fur in the fashion industry as "immoral."

Exceptions from the ban will only be made in special cases involving scientific research, education, and religious purposes.

The maximum penalty for violating the new regulations will be a fine of up to NIS 75,000 or a year of imprisonment. 

Nature and Parks Authority will be responsible for the enforcement of the regulations.

This ban has overwhelming public support with 86% of Israelis expressing a clear position that caging, torturing and brutally killing foxes, minks, dogs and cats for extravagant and unnecessary fashion items is unacceptable.

The move was lauded by the Israeli animal rights advocacy group Animals Now: "We applaud and welcome the environmental protection minister's courageous decision to put an end to the sale of furs in Israel."

The Society for the Protection of Animals in Israel (SPCA Israel) made a similar statement.

American animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) praised Israel "for recognizing that the trade in coats, pom-poms, and other frivolous fashion items made from wild animals' fur offends the values held by all decent citizens."

Source: Jerusalem Post