In an unexpected intervention, Israel’s first lady Sara Netanyahu has spoken out about the “awful” conditions surrounding Australia’s live sheep trade, saying she will raise the matter with Lucy Turnbull.
In a video posted on the Israeli Prime Minister’s official Facebook page, Mrs Netanyahu says she was “appalled” to see the conditions in which animals were transported to Israel, and she had raised the matter with her husband and Israel’s Minister for Agriculture, Uri Ariel.
“I will also address the Australian Prime Minister’s wife, my friend, and I am sure the topics will speak (sic) will their hearts,” Mrs Netanyahu said.
Australia sends a small number of sheep to Israel each year as part of the live export trade. It’s thought about 100,000 animals have been exported from Fremantle to Israel over the past few years.
Animal rights and animal cruelty are hot button issues in Israel and there is a strong local activist movement.
Read the full article by Nick Butterly in The West Australian.