Agriculture is one of the salient sectors of every country’s economy. It borders on crop farming as well as animal husbandry.

Seeing as both poor and rich require food, it is every country’s duty to harness its agricultural potential. With that, the country can afford to feed its inhabitants as well as engage in exports to bring in revenue.

When the agricultural productivity is abysmal, the nation is forced to import, creating cost for the country.

Israeli food production and storage seems to be on its way to jeopardy as the warring country is currently facing major labour shortages.

The Ministry of Labor reported on Thursday, November 2, 2023, that Israel’s agricultural sector is suffering “significant damage” due to an exodus of thousands of foreign workers since the war started.

More than a quarter of about 30,000 foreign workers who used to work in Israeli fields have left the country, the ministry said, adding that about 20,000 Palestinian agricultural workers have not been allowed to enter Israel since October 7.

The ministry has approved the enthe entry of 5,000 foreign workers for the agricultural sector to tackle the shortage.

Prior to the war, roughly half of Israel’s agricultural workforce was composed of foreign and Palestinian labor. Since the war erupted, Israel has barred Palestinian laborers from the West Bank from reaching their jobs.

Near Gaza, the military has banned all farming within 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of the border fence and tightly monitors farmers whose lands lie just outside the no-go zone.

In the north, entire communities have been evacuated because of rocket fire from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group. As foreign laborers flee and farming towns have emptied out, the country has begun importing more vegetables. The few remaining farmers fret for the future of Israeli agriculture.

Meanwhile, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari disclosed that fighting continued overnight in northern Gaza and more than 12,000 targets have been attacked since the start of the war.

For instance, it was reported that a house in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City was targeted, Israeli air raid also hit the al-Faluja area, west of Jabalia refugee camp that has been hit twice in two days and the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza City was hit.

The Israeli army confirmed that one of its drones was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon.

Israel Urged To Be Careful

A former Israeli national security adviser, Eyal Hulata, advised that the country’s decision-makers should be more careful about advancing slowly inside Gaza as diplomatic pressure increases.

“I don’t think the same as some of the [Israeli] ministers and spokesmen that this war can continue without what we call a diplomatic clock … there is a diplomatic clock and it’s ticking and it’s ticking fast,” Eyal Hulata said during an online press briefing.

“I am very attuned to what is happening in foreign capitals. There is a lot of support, but there are also increasing protests against us, and we know how this drill works. There will come a time where world leaders might think that this is problematic to them and even if it’s not justified, they will exert pressure.”
Eyal Hulata

“So Israel has to be more careful about the time it uses,” Hulata added.

Meanwhile, Palestinians with dual citizenship gather at Rafah crossing Egyptian and Palestinian officials both said 400 foreigners and dual nationals were expected to cross on Thursday along with 60 to 100 sick and wounded people.

On Wednesday, about 500 people, including a small number of wounded Palestinians, were allowed to leave when the border opened for the first time since the war started.