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Saudi royals put out all points alert on Israeli imports

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, September 2, 2002

ABU DHABI Ñ A political power struggle has prompted the Saudi kingdom to scrutinize all imports to ensure none of them originated in Israel.

Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf has ordered banks to ensure that bills of lading meant for the kingdom did not pass through Israel. Al Assaf warned that products found to have originated or shipped through Israel would be confiscated and their owners would be severely punished.

Saudi officials said Riyad ordered the intensified inspections along border crossings as well as sea and airports because the Saudi opposition has been accusing the royal family of allowing indirect Israeli imports.

They said the Israeli imports have been originating from other Western and Arab countries including Britain, Jordan and the Netherlands.

The crackdown was announced amid Saudi reports that Israeli medicine has been imported in the kingdom. The government has received information that the Israeli products are being shipped from Europe or from the Jordanian border.

Saudi Health Minister Osama Shubokshi has ordered an investigation into accusations that a British exported medicine, Pyroxicam, is manufactured in the Israeli city of Kfar Saba. Pyroxicam is meant to soothe strained joints and muscles.

Officials said Saudi authorities have recently confiscated nine vehicles of goods that originated from Israel. The shipment was seized on the Saudi-Jordanian border.

At the same time, Saudi police and security agents searched shops in several cities for Israeli products. Saudi newspapers said authorities confiscated watches with an Israeli emblem as well as Israeli perfume.

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