MKs oppose 'abominable' meat ordinance

Religious, non-religious Knesset members say they will oppose tax, customes rate ordinance because it 'does not fits Jewish character of State of Israel.' MK Orlev: Law completely delusional

Amnon Meranda|Published: 02.26.10 , 11:57

Knesset members are intensifying their objection to the proposed ordinance presented to the Knesset on Monday, which sets costumes rates, exemptions and merchandise tax. As reported on Thursday, the ordinance includes unique items, and especially non kosher ones.

Among the items listed in the ordinance are pig meat, meat from horses, donkeys, rabbits, hares, whales, dolphins, seals, walruses, reptiles, crabs, oysters, octopuses, and even snails. Authorization of the tax rates for the list items is none other than Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), a detail that has raised quite a stir within the legislature.

Ordinance Controversy

UTJ member signs for taxation on non-kosher meats

Amnon Meranda

Knesset Finance Committee chairman from United Torah Judaism issues ordinance setting tax rates on meat from horses, donkeys, whales, dolphins, seals, and walruses. MK Gafni says, 'No practical significance for non-kosher items in ordinance'

UTJ member signs for taxation on non-kosher meats

Following Ynet's report, Habayit Hayehudi Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev said that he will object the ordinance in its current formulation. According to Orlev, "This proposition seems completely delusional, as the entire world knows and understands that the Jewish people only eat sheep and cattle that were properly slaughtered; this is part of the identity of the Jewish state," he said.

"I intend to personally approach the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu), and have the coalition form a decision to transfer the ordinance back to the Finance Committee and remove the abominable items," Orlev added.

Also non-religious members of Knesset expressed their reservations vis-à-vis the law. MK Carmel Shama (Likud) said he will also oppose the ordinance, "Because it is not an urgent matter and it may be amended easily so that it better fits the Jewish character of the State of Israel.

"The formulation of the ordinance is neither kosher nor smelly, but it is definitely not smart – to say the least. It is not appropriate for the Knesset to give its seal of approval to an ordinance that deals with pig meat, meat from horses, donkeys and more," he said.