Israel Becomes First Nation to Ban ‘Immoral’ Fur Trade

Israel has announced it intends to ban the buying and selling of animal furs, becoming the first country to do so.

In the announcement, Israel’s environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel explained that “the fur industry causes the killing of hundreds of millions of animals around the world, and involves indescribable cruelty and suffering.”

“Utilizing the skin and fur of wildlife for the fashion industry is immoral,” the minister said.

Source: PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)/Youtube

Exceptions to the ban include “scientific research, education or for instruction and for religious purposes or tradition,” but it mainly exempts Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, many of whom wear large round fur hats called shtreimels, the BBC reported.

Efforts by countries, cities, and companies to end animal fur production and sales have increased in recent years amid investigations exposing the unsanitary, overcrowded conditions and cruel killing methods in the fur industry.

Many countries including the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Norway, and Japan have already banned fur farming. São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, has banned the importation and sale of all fur items as well as prohibiting fur farming. And, in 2019, California became the first U.S. state to ban the sales of animal fur products.

Last week, Nordstrom, one of the leading fashion retailers in the U.S., announced it would end all fur and exotic animal skin sales by next year, joining fashion giants like Chanel, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also thrust mink farms into the conversation after the virus infected mink and employees in mink farms in the U.S. and Europe. The Netherlands announced plans to shut down all mink fur farms next year, moving up their initial 2024 deadline. France also recently announced an end to mink fur farms within the next five years.

Although there are various forms of restrictions on the fur trade, Israel will be the first country to ban the production and sale of animal fur.

Read more about cruelty on fur farms and how fur farms can also pose a public health risk.

Sign this petition to demand that Etsy stop allowing fur sales.

Sign these other petitions as well to stand up against fur:

• Ban Fur in New York
• Ban Fur Farming in Finland
• Ban the Snaring of Foxes in the UK for Fur

Related Content:

• Shocking New Footage of Animals Suffering on a Polish Fur Farm
• Dutch Fur Farms Have Killed A Million Mink During the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Disturbing Footage Described as “Scene From Hell” of Animals Suffering at a Fox Fur Farm

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on iTunes — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy!