An official Knesset delegation traveled to Europe this week to lobby various parliaments on the issue of shechita, which became more acute following French President Nikolas Sarkozi's announcement that shechita arrangements should be altered because of cruelty to animals.
The delegation includes MK Rabbi Yisroel Eichler (UTJ), David Azoulai (Shas) and Yaakov Edri (Kadima). In France they met with rabbonim and French members of parliament and in Brussels with members of the European Parliament. The Knesset members also met with their counterparts in Holland, where the House of Representatives (the lower house of parliament) has already passed a decision against shechita.
As a result of the anti-shechita campaign by European animal rights groups, along with pressure related to upcoming elections, shrill remarks against shechita were issued by Sarkozi's office and by the French Prime Minister.
