Israel warns of ban on bringing plants for Sukkot into the country — Jerusalem Post

Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, ahead of the Sukkot holiday, warned passengers that bringing plant products into the country without a permit is prohibited, including a set of the ritual “four species.” The restriction is in force under the Plant Protection Law and is intended to prevent pests dangerous to local flora and agriculture from entering the country, The Jerusalem Post reports.

Plants for the ritual

The “four species” are the lulav, or palm branch; the etrog, or citron; hadassim, or myrtle; and aravot, or willow. They are bound together and ritually waved during Sukkot as a symbol of unity and praise for God.

The ministry noted that ahead of the holiday, the work of the Plant Protection and Inspection Service is being stepped up at Ben Gurion Airport. This is due to an increase in attempts by passengers and traders to bring in sets of plants that may be infected with various pests.

Plants brought in luggage without the required permit are mostly confiscated. To avoid inconvenience for passengers, inspectors provide a free individual set of locally grown plants to replace the confiscated “four species.” An exception is предусмотрен for one etrog brought in exclusively for personal use.

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Three tonnes of products seized

According to the Plant Protection and Inspection Service, since the beginning of 2026, more than 1,200 passengers carrying plant material prohibited from import in their luggage have been detained at Ben Gurion Airport. In total, about three tonnes of fruit, vegetables, seeds, and parts of trees were seized for destruction.

Shlomit Tsioni, head of the Plant Protection and Inspection Service, said that every border inspection and every intercepted pest are part of the system for protecting local crops and agricultural exports. According to her, the unauthorized import of fruit, vegetables, seeds, flower seedlings, and ritual plants may lead to the emergence in Israel of pests that are currently not present there.

The ministry believes that such pests could cause irreversible damage to vegetation and the agricultural sector, as well as affect exports of agricultural products to Europe, Far Eastern countries, Russia, and the United States.