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animal cruelty

A monkey, likely trafficked into Israel, after being rescued by police in the Negev, southern Israel, on April 10, 2025. (Israel Police)
June 2, 2026, 12:46 pm
Knesset committee extends money laundering law to wildlife trafficking
Move allows authorities to follow money trail, track down criminals involved in what is regarded as fourth-largest category of illegal global trade
By Sue Surkes
Illustrative: An illegally held lion cub discovered by Israeli police in the central city of Tira on April 24, 2025. (Israel Police)
May 13, 2026, 6:54 pm
Palestinian handed 30-month sentence for trying to sell illegally obtained lion cub
As part of plea deal, defendant also pleads guilty to trying to sell additional exotic animals, owning an illegal M-16 rifle
By ToI Staff
In her new book, Beth Berkowitz explores the way biblical laws invite a conversation about animals and what their family ties can teach us. (University of California Press via JTA)
February 6, 2026, 4:28 pm
A new book looks at Jewish law’s relationship with animal family bonds
In ‘What Animals Teach Us About Families,’ Prof. Beth Berkowitz of Barnard College delves into commandments involving mother birds, baby goats – and ethics, if not empathy
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
A live shipment of animals bound for fattening and slaughter in Israel arrives at the port of Eilat on the Red Sea coast on June 19, 2023. (Omri Omessi)
December 18, 2025, 8:17 am
Israeli NGO among 36 organizations calling for global reform of live animal shipping
Groups urge International Maritime Organization to improve conditions for animals shipped for slaughter, citing threats to animal welfare, human life and marine environment
By Sue Surkes
Calves on a live shipment from Australia to Eilat for fattening, prior to slaughter, December 2019. (Israel Against Live Shipments)
January 12, 2025, 4:55 pm
Finance Ministry set to permanently exempt import of live calves from customs duties
Opponents say move will gift millions of shekels to Tnuva and Dabbah meat companies, which control most of the beef market, at a time when Israelis face steep price rises
By Sue Surkes
Neglected dogs rescued by the Agriculture Ministry and police from a pirate breeder in central Israel, October 15, 2024. (Agriculture Ministry)
October 15, 2024, 2:09 pm
Agriculture Ministry, police raid ‘puppy mill,’ rescue 30 neglected dogs
Criminal proceedings opened against owners of facility in central Israel; small-breed dogs said thin and riddled with disease
By Sue Surkes
An undated picture of laying hens in a cage. (Animals Now)
August 4, 2024, 4:15 pm
Regulations enter into effect to ban starvation of hens to increase egg production
Denying hens food for eight to 12 days speeds up annual molting during which fewer eggs are laid and profits fall; animal welfare group: ‘Cruel practice’ crossed all lines
By Sue Surkes
Lynne Mendelsohn. (Mark Reed)
July 29, 2024, 9:18 am
‘Typical Scottish Jewish girl’ makes home in Zambia after dumping legal career in UK
Lynne Mendelsohn runs an animal sanctuary in Livingstone: ‘My Jewish identity is important and I’d like to be buried in the Jewish cemetery. I tell people it’s my tribe’
By Sue Surkes
The livestock carrier Bahijah berthed at Fremantle port, Western Australia, 2018. (Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
April 8, 2024, 1:45 pm
Controversial shipment of livestock reaches Israel from Australia after months-long odyssey
Animal rights groups slam both governments for allowing the consignment of some 14,000 sheep and calves to sail after original journey was diverted by Houthi missile attacks
By Sue Surkes
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip sit next to the border fence with Egypt in Rafah, January 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
February 4, 2024, 2:05 pm
Daily Briefing Feb. 4: Day 121 – Anatomy of the fraying Israel-Egypt alliance
Arab affairs reporter Luca Pacchiani on Hamas’s hostage deal flip-flopping; reporter Canaan Lidor on Kfar Aza returnees, the rescue/looting of pets from Gaza, and a French flame war
By ToI Staff
A camel being seized during a police operation in the Negev desert, Sept. 1, 2023. (Israel Police Spokesperson)
September 1, 2023, 3:02 pm
Seven Bedouin arrested for involvement in illegal camel races in IDF firing zone
Footage of the races shows dozens of camels, trucks and all-terrain vehicles crossing army zone at high speed
By ToI Staff
A live shipment of animals bound for fattening and slaughter in Israel arrives at the port of Eilat on the Red Sea coast on June 19, 2023. (Omri Omessi)
July 3, 2023, 1:06 am
Over 500,000 calves, lambs have arrived in notorious live shipments so far this year
While meat industry insists ships meet regulations, activists say treatment of animals imported for fattening and slaughter violates animal welfare laws
By Sue Surkes
Calves on a live shipment from Australia to Eilat for fattening, prior to slaughter, December 2019. (Israel Against Live Shipments)
January 3, 2022, 5:37 pm
Numbers of animals imported for fattening, slaughter up 42% last year
Agriculture Ministry says a record 856,630 calves and lambs shipped to Israel in 2021; 7 bills in Knesset seek to halt live shipments within 3 years, import chilled meat instead
By Sue Surkes
Calves on a live shipment from Australia to Eilat for fattening, prior to slaughter, December 2019. (Israel Against Live Shipments)
November 23, 2021, 3:14 am
MK launches new Knesset animal welfare caucus, vows to end live shipments of calves
It’s time for others to ‘stop calling us crazy,’ says Yesh Atid’s Yasmin Sacks-Friedman, also highlighting plight of street cats, and caged hens and pigs
By Sue Surkes
Ultra Orthodox Jews perform the Kapparot ceremony on September 13, 2021, in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
September 14, 2021, 4:12 pm
Environment Ministry: Replace cruel chicken ‘kapparot’ with donations
Pre-Yom Kippur ritual of swinging live chickens around the head to absolve sin causes great suffering, says minister
By Sue Surkes
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