JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli apple growers are transferring 8,000 tons of fruit to Syria.
The transfer of the apples, from Druze orchards in the Golan Heights, began Tuesday and is expected to take place over the next few weeks, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces. The apples will be marketed in Syria for the fourth consecutive year.
The Red Cross in Israel and Syria are coordinating the effort with the participation and observation of United Nations representatives and the IDF, which will accompany and secure the trucks’ movement near the Syrian border.
More than 20 truckloads of apples are expected to cross each day through the Kuneitra crossing, which is usually used for U.N. personnel and forces.
