Jerusalem, 6 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An attempt to smuggle over 20 tons of mozzarella cheese from the Palestinian Authority into Israeli territory without supervision was foiled. This came as inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security conducted a series of enforcement activities throughout the country during the Passover holiday, with the aim of protecting public health.
During an inspection at the a-Za’ayem crossing into Jerusalem, a 23-year-old Jerusalem resident was arrested while transporting the cheese from the Palestinian Authority to Israel in a truck. The inspectors discovered that the produce was transported without import permits, without documentation indicating the cheese’s origin, and without refrigeration at all. The suspect, said authorities, even tried to mislead enforcement officials by presenting a fake invoice from an Israeli business, and an initial investigation revealed that he intended to transport the cheese for marketing in Tiberias.
The truck, trailer and cheese were transferred to the Ministry’s facility, and due to the danger to public health, the produce was destroyed. Criminal proceedings have been opened against the suspect.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety emphasized that animal products are sensitive products that, if not stored and handled under proper conditions throughout the supply chain, may pose a real danger to public health. Therefore, the ministry reiterates its call on the public to be careful to purchase products in their original packaging and from organized points of sale that are under supervision.