Israel’s important agreement amid the ongoing war with Hamas

On Sunday, Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter signed a memorandum of understanding with Romanian officials in Bucharest amid the ongoing war with Hamas. The agreement is the fourth in Israel’s strategic initiative, ‘Treat the Wheat,’ to secure emergency wheat supplies. In return, Israel will provide Romania with agricultural technology.

What is the ‘Treat the Wheat’ initiative?

The agreement with Romania follows similar agreements with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Morocco. All are aimed at diversifying Israel’s wheat import sources. Israel’s ‘Treat the Wheat’ initiative was launched following the global wheat shortage caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dechter said about this agreement that in this period of global uncertainty and serious geopolitical conflicts in our region, this agreement born of common interests will allow Israel an additional import channel, especially in times of emergency.

Israeli agriculture is suffering heavy losses in the war

For information, let us tell you that Israeli agriculture is facing heavy losses in production and manpower. Before October 7, there were 29,900 foreigners in Israel, mostly Thais, who worked in fields, gardens, greenhouses and packing plants. After the war, Israeli workers were called for military reserve duty, while Palestinian workers are currently banned as a security risk.

The Israeli government is turning to India and other countries to address worker shortages.  During his visit, Dichter also met his Romanian counterpart, Florin-Ionut Barbu, Romanian Jewish community leader Silviu Wexler, and leaders of the Israel-Romania Chamber of Commerce.