In what may soon become the next coalition crisis, Meretz Chairwoman Tamar Zandberg is working to transfer responsibility for animal welfare from the Agriculture Ministry, currently headed by Yisrael Beytenu's Oded Forer, to the Environmental Protection Affairs Ministry she now heads.
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In a letter to Lior Farber, the acting deputy director-general of the Prime Minister's Office's Home Affairs, Planning, and Development Division, Environmental Protection Affairs Ministry Director-General Galit Cohen emphasized that 27 years after the Animal Protection Law was enacted, the "Agriculture Ministry has not brought about the effective implementation of the law and has not met the objectives set out for it."
By shifting authority to the Environmental Protection Ministry, officials hope to enlist professionals in the field like veterinarians in animal protection efforts.
Zandberg, who served as chairwoman of the Knesset Lobby for the Protection of Animals in the previous government, has for years participated in every discussion on the subject as well as introduced legislation to halt the live shipment of animals.
She told Israel Hayom: "The ministry that represents the economic interests of the animal food production industry cannot monitor animal welfare, and has even failed at this for years. The Environmental Protection Ministry is the best suited to be given authority on the subject, both due to its commitment to protect animals' rights and protect the environment that is harmed by the polluting industry of animal food production."
In a statement, Agriculture Ministry officials said: "Animal welfare is under the authority of Agriculture Ministry veterinary services in most countries around the world, and it is not for nothing that the veterinary services know the animals' needs and the mutual influences on the environment and the health of the animals and the public."
Ministry officials continued: "The ministry, in cooperation with other bodies, cares for animal welfare on a daily basis. All this alongside public diplomacy activities to increase awareness, sterilization, and castration, and unique initiatives like involving the public in the issue of regulating stray cats."
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