The country’s agriculture minister Uri Ariel ordered the slaughterhouse in Dabbah in northern Israel to be closed immediately further to “suspected violations of the animal welfare act and slaughtering regulations”, his office said earlier this week.
The decision was made after a request from the Australian Department of Agriculture, who were shown footage and details of the alleged cruelty by animal rights group Animals Australia.
The film, which was broadcast last Sunday, showed workers slitting the throats of the cattle and hanging them while still conscious. Employees were also shown beating calves with sticks and giving them electric shocks.
“I will show zero tolerance towards harming animals,” said Ariel.