A surprising article appeared today in the economic Israeli newspaper Calcalist. According to the report, Israelis are breaking the international economic isolation of Iran by importing authentic Persian carpets. According to sources in Israel’s carpet industry, the importers deceive the customs authorities by hiding the source of the carpets, importing them through the UK or Belgium.
Israeli law prohibits trade with enemy countries.
The daily randomly called a number of local carpet shops that did not even attempt to hide the source of their quality rugs, even offering a certificate of authenticity. International furniture chain IKEA, which sells Persian rugs worldwide, does not do so in Israel.
