The ‘historic’ ban signed into law by environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel will exempt the use of fur in ‘scientific research, education or instruction, and for religious purposes or tradition.’

Israel has become the first country in the world to ban the sale of fur.

The bill was passed into law by environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel and will be effective six months from now, with a few exceptions.

The historic ban follows years of efforts by local activists, and several animal rights organisations.  PETA US Honorary Director Pamela Anderson personally lobbied government officials in Tel Aviv and appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to support a ban on fur.

Fur industry inflicts indescribable cruelty and suffering

Gamliel after signing the regulations said: “The fur industry causes the deaths of hundreds of millions of animals worldwide, and inflicts indescribable cruelty and suffering.

“Using the skin and fur of wildlife for the fashion industry is immoral and is certainly unnecessary.

“Animal fur coats cannot cover the brutal murder industry that makes them. Signing these regulations will make the Israeli fashion market more environmentally friendly and far kinder to animals.”

Israel’s move to protect helpless animals from cruelties is heartening after the country was recently embroiled in conflicts with innocent Palestinians, raiding their homes for forced evictions, and attacking worshippers in the holy Al-Aqsa mosque.

Israel’s fur ban has certain exemptions

Israel’s ban will exempt the use of fur in ‘scientific research, education or instruction, and for religious purposes or tradition.’ This means the sale of shtreimels – fur hats traditionally worn on Shabbat and holidays by Orthodox men – will be allowed.

Claire Bass is the executive director of Humane Society International/UK (HSI). She said: “This is a truly historic day for animal protection, with Israel becoming the first country in the world to ban the sale of fur fashion,” Claire Bass, executive director of Humane Society International/UK, said.

“Even with the exemption for traditional dress, without which this ban was unlikely to have succeeded, Israel’s fur ban will save the lives of millions of animals suffering on fur farms or languishing in cruel traps around the world, and it sends a clear message that fur is unethical, unnecessary and outdated.”

Other governments should follow

HSI/UK, which leads the #FurFreeBritain campaign for a UK fur sales ban, hopes Israel’s ban will inspire the British government to follow its lead and also implement similar laws.

While the country banned fur farming in 2003, it has since imported more than £800 million worth of animal fur from other countries.

The UK government recently launched a Call for Evidence to consider fur import and sales ban. YouGov and Yonder opinion polls have shown that over 72% of Brits favour the ban.

Bass added: “We now call on the British government to follow Israel’s compassionate lead and implement a UK fur import and sales ban once DEFRA’s Call for Evidence is completed.

“For as long as the UK remains open for business to sell fur that we deemed too cruel to farm here two decades ago, we are complicit in this cruelty.”

• Read: Estonia is the first Baltic nation to ban fur farming

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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