Israeli importer rejects stolen grain over sanctions risk, reports say
Photo: Israeli importer refuses to accept stolen grain (Getty Images)
An Israeli importer has refused to unload grain stolen from Ukraine due to the risk of facing international sanctions, according to Newsru.co.il.
Zenziper, one of Israel’s largest grain importers, has refused a shipment of grain whose delivery to the port of Haifa sparked a diplomatic row with Ukraine.
According to media reports, Zenziper informed the supplier that it would have to find another port for unloading.
Israeli importers fear falling under European sanctions and accuse the government of a lack of assistance and information support.
Background
Last week, a ship carrying grain that the Russians had stolen from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine arrived at the port of Haifa.
Despite calls from the Ukrainian authorities for Israel not to accept the cargo, it was unloaded anyway. Already this week, a second ship carrying stolen Ukrainian grain arrived in Israel.
Ukraine again urged Israeli authorities not to accept the cargo. Meanwhile, as Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in light of these actions, Ukrainian authorities have begun preparing a new package of sanctions.
