Saudis still boycotting Israeli products

jerusalem (jps) | Despite renewed assurances that it is no longer enforcing a trade boycott against Israel, Saudi Arabia continues to prohibit Israeli-made goods.

While a senior U.S. trade official sought to assure Congress that the embargo had in fact been removed, there is evidence indicating that it remains in place.

"If a product is made in Israel, it is a problem. It is not allowed here," said Muhammad al-Matrafi, a spokesman for the director's office of the King Khalid Airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

A Saudi customs official at the Persian Gulf port of Ras Tanurah was equally adamant.

"There is a ban on Israeli products, and anything coming from Israel will not be allowed," said the customs official, who gave his name only as Capt. Hosni.

Another Saudi customs official at the al Durah land crossing on the Saudi-Jordanian border reaffirmed that the ban on Israeli-made goods remains in place. Asked if products made in Israel could be brought into the desert kingdom, he angrily replied, "No. Absolutely not," before hanging up.

The Saudi position appears to contradict assurances given by U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Susan Schwab. In written responses to questions raised by members of the Senate Finance Committee, Schwab said that Saudi Arabia had told Washington that it was abiding by its pledge to end the boycott.

In November 2005, the Saudis promised the Bush administration that they would remove restrictions on trade with Israel, after Washington conditioned Riyadh's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

But the Saudis went ahead and hosted a major international conference aimed at intensifying the anti-Israel boycott, raising concerns in Congress about Riyadh's compliance with its commitments.

In addition, an official Saudi delegation took part in a meeting of the Arab League's boycott office in Damascus in May.

"We have raised this issue directly with senior Saudi officials on several occasions, both in Riyadh and in Washington," Schwab told the senators. "In all cases, we have received assurances that Saudi Arabia fully understands and remains committed to its WTO obligations."

The WTO bars members from engaging in discriminatory trade practices, such as embargoes or boycotts.