He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Israel says it intends to ban the purchase and sale of animal furs, which would make the Middle Eastern country the first in the world to do so, although similar bills are at stake in numerous other countries, which have not yet been enforced.
Announcing new regulations, environmental protection minister Gila Gamliel said the use of leather and fur for the fashion industry is "immoral".
His ministry said future permits will only be considered based on certain limited criteria.
Victory! Israel is the first country in the Middle East to stop fur
Animal rights group Peta has "applauded" Israel's move. Until now, only a handful of cities - in the United States and São Paulo in Brazil - had banned the sale of all animal fur.
At the moment, anyone in Israel wishing to buy or sell fur must apply for a permit, but under the new rules this will only be allowed in the case of "scientific research, education or for religious or traditional purposes".
It is likely that the exemption was meant for Israel's large ultra-Orthodox community, including many of the men wearing large, round fur hats called shtreimels, which are believed to have originated as a custom in Eastern Europe.
"The fur industry causes the killing of hundreds of millions of animals around the world and involves indescribable cruelty and suffering," Gamliel said. "Using the skin and fur of wildlife for the fashion industry is immoral."
Elisa Allen, director of Peta, praised Israel "for recognizing that the trade in frivolous fashion items made from wild animal fur offends the values held by all honest citizens."
Anyone caught breaking the new law will face a fine of up to around € 18.500 or a year in prison.
Source: Jpost, BBC
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