Watan-The Jordanian Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, justifies the government’s lenient approach towards Jordanian companies exporting vegetables and fruits to the Israeli occupation, despite his strong message to the occupation and the companies dealing with it.
The issue of Jordan’s support for Israel with vegetables and fruits resurfaced after a video circulated showing Jordanian crates of vegetables and fruits in Israeli markets, suggesting recent exports.
The export of vegetables to Israel from Jordan
Despite the denial by the Jordanian government of these reports, recent footage and images confirm the Jordanian regime’s allowance of supplying the occupation and assisting it in facing the challenges and consequences of the war on Gaza.
وزير الزراعة خالد حنيفات مخاطبا تجار الخضار والفواكه الذين يصدرون إلى إسرائيل في ظل العدوان المستمر على غزة: “استحوا على حالكم شوي”
الوزير أوضح في مقابلة مع المملكة أنه لا يوجد قانون يمنع التجار من التصدير إلى إسرائيل#الأردن #وزارة_الزراعة #التصدير #هنا_المملكة pic.twitter.com/Dpj9pk17Ry
— قناة المملكة (@AlMamlakaTV) December 31, 2023
Hneifat justifies Jordan’s leniency in exporting vegetables to Israel!
The Jordanian Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, stated in remarks reported by Jordanian media and highlighted by (Watan): ‘There is no legal mechanism preventing vegetable traders from exporting to Israel. We just tell them, given the current circumstances, be a bit discreet.’
The minister added that ‘the agriculture sector in Jordan is not significantly affected by regional and global repercussions.’
He continued, stating that ‘there are traders who have contracts with the Israeli side, in addition to exporting to the West Bank… as well as transit through the port of Haifa, which are three routes.
The Jordanian Minister of Agriculture continued regarding the situation in Gaza: ‘I believe that Jordan’s stance on the issue and on what is currently happening in Gaza is sincere. The government’s position and the popular stance are clear, genuine, and not artificial. Exaggeration is an unacceptable matter.’
As for the Jordanian plan for sustainable agriculture, Hneifat stated that ‘it has been adopted by the private sector to engage Jordanian farmers and all the entities and frameworks representing Jordanian farmers.’
The minister did not extensively address the issue of exporting vegetables and fruits to the Israeli occupation. Instead, he shifted the focus to Jordan’s domestic affairs, stating that Jordan’s economic plans aim to support employment opportunities, reduce poverty, promote rural development, and empower women.
The footage compelled the Jordanian government to break its silence
Hebrew media outlets had previously published footage and images of various crates of vegetables and fruits, prominently featuring tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchinis, in Israeli markets, sourced from Jordanian companies.
These shots displayed the name of the company ‘Raed Al-Humshari,’ a member of the Jordanian Association of Vegetable and Fruit Exporters and Producers.
Earlier, the Jordanian Association of Vegetable and Fruit Exporters and Producers issued a statement condemning commercial dealings with the Israeli occupation, urging the agricultural sector to adhere to the boycott. The association emphasized that it would take measures against violators.
Last Friday, a massive protest took place in front of the Israeli embassy in Jordan, protesting the ongoing export of Jordanian vegetables to the occupation amidst the continuous Israeli massacres against Palestinians in Gaza.