Israel

MK Deplores Food Shortages

Monday, October 12, 2015 7:54 pm | < 1 Minute Read

By Shimon B. Lifkin

Tomatoes for sale at a market in Tel Aviv, where prices have more than tripled over the past two months. (Flash90)

The current shortage of food on the shelves of Israeli stores was foreseen and could have been prevented, charged MK Eitan Cabel (Zionist Camp), chairman of the Knesset’s Economics Committee on Monday.

“The shortages on the shelves are a disgraceful occurrence,” Cabel said, and vowed to find out who was responsible.

“The shortage in tomatoes will continue until the beginning of December,” Ministry of Agriculture Director-General Shlomo Ben-Eliyahu told the committee, which heard about shortfalls in recent weeks that have included fruit and vegetables as well as fresh beef and poultry. “Farmers can only produce about 50% of demand,” he noted.

Cabel recalled that coming shortages were already discussed in the committee two months ago, before prices began to soar on the eve of the chagim. He said that he would launch an investigation.

MK Eitan Broshi (Zionist Camp) pointed an accusing finger at the Ministry of Finance, saying that its intervention in import and other procedures undermined planning.

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the October 13th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.