Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has written to an Orthodox Israeli politician asking him to back a proposal to ban the trade of fur in Israel.

The Canadian-American actress and animal rights activist is also planning to go to a Knesset meeting to appeal for more politicians to support proposed legislation preventing religious men from wearing shtreimels (hats) trimmed with fur.

In a letter to Yakov Margi, Israel’s Minister of Religious Services, Ms Anderson said that the fur trade goes against Jewish laws about the treatment on animals.

A ban was first suggested in 2009 but has been delayed by Mr Margi, a member of the religious party Shas.
Earlier this summer actress Brigitte Bardot joined the campaign and petitioned Industry, Trade and Labour Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer for his support.

Polls suggest the proposal, which could mean a 12-month prison sentence if breached, has the support of 80 per cent of Israelis.

The actress is in Israel to act as a guest judge on the new series of Israel’s Dancing with the Stars.