Israel’s global trade dropped 18% during the last quarter of 2023, while trade with Arab nations saw only a 4% decrease. This resilience underscores the Israel-Arab’s evolving economic relationships.
A joint investigation by Middle East Eye (MEE) and Arabic Post revealed that hundreds of food products from various Arab countries are certified kosher and sold in Israel. Despite international condemnation and calls for boycotts over alleged genocide and the deaths of over 37,000 Palestinians in Gaza, 3367 kosher products from Arab and Muslim countries have been imported to Israel, including 442 products from 80 companies based in Arab countries.
The investigation emphasizes strong trade links between Israel and countries like the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. Mahmoud Nawaja, general coordinator for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, criticized these governments for their ongoing trade relations with Israel, accusing them of complicity in Israeli actions against Palestinians.
MEE reports that kosher-certified products are displayed in Israeli supermarkets and available online. Some companies have denied exporting directly to Israel, suggesting third-party routes, while others claim their products were intended for Palestinian markets.
In May 2024, imports from Egypt to Israel doubled to $25 million compared to the same month in 2023. Total imports for the first five months of 2024 decreased slightly to $85.6 million from $90.7 million the previous year. Jordan and Morocco also saw decreased imports, while UAE imports rose to $1.2 billion from $988 million.
According to the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, trade between Israel and Arab states showed robustness despite the Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel’s global trade fell, while trade with Arab countries showed a minor decline. Trade between Israel and the UAE made up about three-quarters of Israel’s trade with Arab nations, reflecting a 17% year-on-year growth despite a 14% drop in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Jordan’s trade with Israel decreased by 16% in 2023, with a sharp 42% drop in the fourth quarter. In contrast, Israel’s trade with Egypt grew by 56% in 2023, with a 168% year-on-year increase in the fourth quarter. Morocco’s trade with Israel more than doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year.
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