Riyadh denies importing Israeli goods

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it firmly implements a total embargo on the Israeli goods, and thereby denying a report saying that the Israeli exports to the kingdom has increased by three folds during the first quarter of the current year 2002 in comparison with the same period of 2001.

In a statement to the press, a spokesman for the Saudi ministry of trade said that Saudi Arabia is considered as the toughest towards boycotting the Israeli goods, noting that there is no trade exchange between the Kingdom and Israel. He added that the inspection team of his ministry follow up closely and continuously the markets to make sure they are free from any Israeli goods that might have been smuggled to the Kingdom, noting that any violating goods are confiscated and the shops having them are closed.

On Tuesday, the Israeli exportation establishment said that the Israeli exports to Saudi Arabia increased during the first quarter of this year to USD 1.3 billion, despite the decrease of its exports to the Arab states by 39% because of the escalated Israeli- Palestinian fighting.

The Israeli establishment added that the Israeli exports to the Arab Gulf states basically constitute of chemicals and machinery.