Tel-Chai Nation

Even now, before the Muslim Brotherhood has taken over per se, Egypt appears to be banning the sale of palm fronds from their region to Israel (Hat tip: The Blaze):

Egypt has forbidden the picking and exporting of palm fronds used in the upcoming Jewish holiday of Sukkot, leaving Israel scrambling to make up for the shortage.

But one Egyptian customs official said the ban so far has not been implemented.

Even if they haven't done that yet, should Israel be buying its palm leaves from a country where a tyrannical religion reigns supreme and blandly tolerates oppression of women, and is certainly moving in that direction?

The fronds of the date palm, called lulavs, are waved during Sukkot, which celebrates the ancient wanderings of the Jewish people after their exile from Egypt. The seven-day holiday begins on the evening of October 12.

"The Agriculture Ministry is working for the complete supply of lulavs for anyone who wants one after it became apparent that picking and exporting them from Sinai is completely forbidden this year," the ministry said.

"As a result of the new circumstances, the Minister of Agriculture, Orit Noked, encourages Israeli palm tree growers to significantly increase the number of lulavs to be given for the Sukkot holiday. At the same time, we will advance alternatives to importing palm trees so that everyone can observe the obligations of Sukkot."

The minister also said the agency would help supply Israelis "with lulavs at a fair price by encouraging domestic date farmers to greatly boost their supply."

The incident comes amid frosty relations between Israel and the new leadership in Egypt.

When it comes to buying palm fronds from foreign countries, I think it would be for the best to get them elsewhere, like from Hawaii and the Solomon Islands rather than Egypt. It may cost more, but it'd be better than putting money into the pockets of tyrants.

Labels: anti-semitism, Egypt, islam, Israel