Palestine, Israel agree to end trade dispute

RAMALLAH

The Palestinian Authority and Israel have reached an agreement to end a weeks-long trade dispute, a Palestinian minister said on Thursday.

"Israel has ended its ban on the exports of Palestinian agricultural products abroad, and allowed [us] to import calves from the world markets." Palestinian Economy Minister Khaled al-Osaily said.

Al-Osaily, noted that the deal which was reached through international mediators will take effect on Sunday.

Trade tension mounted in February between Palestine and Israel after the latter announced a moratorium on its import of Palestinian agricultural products, prompting the Palestinian government to ban five Israeli food commodities.

Israel responded to the Palestinian decision by banning Palestinian agricultural exports via Jordan.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat