New York City – With Israel blocking the export of a large shipment of carp, the primary ingredient in gefilte fish, through the implementation of a new 120% tariff on the product, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D—Queens and Brooklyn) Rep. Don Manzullo are calling on the country to exempt carp from any excise taxes or levies. The current tariff will make it more difficult, if not impossible, for American fishermen to continue making a living by exporting carp to Israel.
In a letter to Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, Weiner and Manzullo requested that Israel allow the fish to be shipped to its intended destination without being subjected to the burdensome levy and also revert to its old policy of not taxing imported U.S. carp so that the important tradition of eating gefilte fish on Jewish holidays is readily available to all Israelis.
“Frogs, Lice, Locusts. Now Tariffs? Israel is one of our closest allies, but I believe this action is counterproductive for both of our great countries,” Weiner said. “Israel should allow this shipment to proceed without the new tariff, and we should be doing everything we can to encourage free trade between our two nations, especially when it comes to a product that is so important to Jewish tradition. Let my people(‘s fish) go!”
Trade between the United States and Israel – which is America’s 20th largest export market – has grown sevenfold since the two countries signed a Free Trade Agreement in 1985. As of 2008, U.S.—Israeli bi-lateral trade reached $36.8 billion.
Full text of letter below:
Dear Ambassador Oren,
We are writing to you regarding a shipment of carp that is stuck in the United States because Israel has reversed their longstanding trade policy of not imposing a tariff on US carp. This begs the question, why is this year different than all other years?
Now, Israel is imposing a 120% tax on this carp that is the primary source for Israeli gefilte fish producers. However, as this important holiday approaches, we write to say: don’t leave Seder plates empty – pass over this tariff.
Surely our governments do not want to threaten the important U.S. resources used to give Israeli gefilte fish they need for the upcoming holiday of Pesach. Getting gefilte fish to Israel shouldn’t require parting the Red Sea.
We respectfully request that Israel revert to their old policy of not taxing imported U.S. carp so that the important and symbolic tradition of eating gefilte fish on Jewish holidays is available to all Israelis.
Let our people(’s fish) go!
Sincerely,
ANTHONY D. WEINER
Member of Congress
DON MANZULLO
Member of Congress
(YWN Desk – NYC / Photo of A&B Famous Gefilte Fish)
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6 Responses
Sounds to me that the Israelis are protecting the interests of Israeli farmers (seems fair, American typically acts to protect the interest of American farmers). This could lead to the US pushing for tariffs on things we import from Israel (most esrogim, a large percentage of machine matzah, etc.).
I don’t like carp. Whenever I make gefilte fish, I never put carp in it. Just plain, old white fish.
how could u not like carp? it’s great!
another thing is, my friend’s name is carp, it’s insulting when ppl say they dont like carp
flat. bubby, i agree, gefilte fish is always better when its home made, and made from white fish. but you have to make it right, by carefully separating the skin of the fish, making the gefilte fish and then stuffing it back in. it’s the best.
this whole issue is making clear the reason behind the new issur on many types of fish though…there was just a new ban on wild caught fish because it might have worms, the same worms that the gemara in chullin says are totally muttar, so i was wondering why would rabbunim in eretz yisroel ban it, now it makes perfect sense…they must be getting pressured by the israeli fishing industry and the gov’t.
shochad shochad tirdof
Unfortunately, most israeli-gefilte fish is primarily mullet, according to the ingredients label. I personally prefer fish made with whitefish and pike, although my Bubby used carp as a filler because it was cheaper that the other fish. Actually, before yom tov she always had one or two carp swimming in her bathtub.
I don’t get it. This article, and the purported senator’s letter, look like a Purim joke, but it was published 2 days after Purim there and 1 day after Shushan Purim.
Is this actually for real, or is it a late Purim joke?