Israeli farmers blocked major intersections and junctions around the center of the country on Thursday to protest the government’s plan to further open up the local market to fruit and vegetable imports.
Already small farmers in Israel are finding it difficult to survive financially, and they fear the influx of foreign produce due to the lowering of import tariffs will put them out of business altogether.
Even with fewer and fewer Israelis taking up farming, especially with all the emphasis placed on hi-tech in the past decade, the Jewish state is still largely self-sustaining when it comes to food production. Many believe it is a strategic interest to maintain that level of independence, and as such to do everything possible to bolster local farmers.
At the same time, the cost of living has risen sharply in recent years, and many Israelis find their monthly food expenditures to be untenable.
And what of the mission to continue fulfilling the biblical mandate to make the Promised Land green and fruitful?
A couple of years ago we published a series of feature articles related to Israel’s agricultural successes, knowhow and the flat-out blessing of the Lord in making what was once a desert blossom again in our day. We encourage you to go explore some of those articles:
- Israel’s Agriculture is Vital in Times of Crisis
- The Bible and Agriculture
- Fulfilling the Prophecy of Amos: “They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine”
- Mikve and the Hope of Israel
- The Hula Valley: Turning Accursed Waters to Waters of Blessing
