They’ve been punched, kicked and smothered on ships. They are the victims of the live export trade to Israel — and now they have an unprecedented voice in a ground-breaking campaign.
Vulnerable 10 week-old calves from Europe and cattle and sheep from Australia make up the hundreds of thousands of animals exported to Israel to be slaughtered every year.
In a cutting-edge campaign, Animals Australia has united with animal protection groups in Israel — Anonymous for Animal Rights, Let the Animals Live, and Israel Against Live Shipments — to shine an unprecedented spotlight on the suffering of these animals.
This image contains content which some may find confronting
‘Stop the death ships’ — these powerful words have turned heads at hundreds of prime locations across Tel Aviv.
This image contains content which some may find confronting
Throughout Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem — the home of Israel’s parliament — over 200 buses hit the streets reminding Israelis of the suffering of exported animals and calling for an end to the trade.
The live export trade to Israel has a terrible history of cruelty and controversy. One bull’s heartbreaking story is just one example of what animals can be forced to endure. When offloaded in Israel, he was stabbed, beaten and had his tail crushed — all because he refused to step onto a truck that would bring him closer to his death. Watch what happened…
On top of this, five separate livestock shipments have broken down en route to Israel in the past three years, causing the suffering and deaths of thousands of animals. The abuse of sheep and cattle during unloading at the Port of Eilat has been documented by investigators on numerous occasions, and recently a veteran live export vet exposed the shocking conditions animals are subjected to during the three week voyage from Australia. While shorter, the journey from Europe is still steeped with risk and distress for the very young animals forced to endure it.
Israel’s politicians are listening
Growing community awareness and opposition to the trade within and outside Israel is having an impact. The Israeli government’s Animal Welfare Committee is unanimous in the view that live imports should end. And Israel’s Minister for Agriculture, Uri Ariel, has committed to reduce the number of animals imported into Israel after a bill to end live imports was drafted in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). There has never been a more critical time in Israel to speak up for these animals.
A decision by Israel to take leadership on this issue and say to the world that we no longer want to be part of this unnecessary suffering, would be celebrated by compassionate people internationally.
