Avocado, grapes, dates, tangerines, peaches, mango and figs are taboo, we are instructed.

Even Israel's famous oranges, grapefruits and sabras are to be avoided.

A directive from the Israel Boycott Office? Or the Palestinians, perhaps?

No, it's from the Manchester Beth Din! It's all connected to the laws of shmitta - when the land lies fallow.

But the shmitta year has ended, we hear you say. Ah, yes, agrees the religious court - but its laws still apply for the moment to a large range of products.

What about exotic Israeli delights like passion fruit and papaya? They should be avoided at all costs, says the beth din - but for a different technical reason.

But at least we can look forward to those delightful, sweet-smelling Israeli flowers for Shabbat?

Wrong! A large number of them are not permitted, say the dayanim.

And if you're thinking of drowning your sorrows with a drink at such devastating news, forget it.

The beth din has just declared Budweiser and Bulmers cider non-kosher.

Beeb drop spooky clanger

JUST as red-faced Gordon Brown is getting over his gaffe over a Palestinian state, the BBC has made a similar bloomer.

As the Jewish Telegraph reported last week, the prime minister implied that a Palestinian state was already in existence.

Maybe, Mr Brown had enjoyed a sneak preview of the BBC's spy drama Spooks. For the latest episode opened with the caption "Israel-Palestine border".

It seems that the BBC needs the same history lesson as the PM.

Fenced in by Shabbat

RELIGIOUS Israeli teenager Yuval Freilich is on his guard - after the 13-year-old fencer decided he could not compete in a top competition because it took place on Shabbat.

Yuval, 13, petitioned the Israeli High Court to reschedule, arguing that the Fencing Association were discriminating against religious Jewish athletes.

But Israeli fencing clubs have found a way round it - and said that contests on a Saturday can be started later in the day, allowing Frielich to fence after Shabbat goes out.

At least they are no longer sitting on the fence...

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