Will Pamela Anderson's sex appeal help pass anti-fur law in Israel?

Pamela Anderson is planning to use her sex appeal to persuade Israel to pass the anti-fur law.

The former Baywatch star wants ultra-Orthodox lawmakers to endorse an animal rights bill that critics fear could limit production of traditional fur hats worn by Hassidic Jews.

"It's almost 2011. There are so many alternatives. We can be compassionate in our choices," the New York Daily News quoted Anderson as saying.

Anderson, an animal rights activist and honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), is in Israel to participate in the local version of Dancing with the Stars.

An anti-fur bill in Israel was shelved amid opposition by Orthodox parliamentarians.

Even though skimpy bikinis like those favoured by Anderson are commonplace in Israel, thousands of members of Hassidic sects dress the same way their ancestors did in the 18th century.

They wear long black coats and hats made with fur.

Anderson called Israel a "progressive" country because it has no fur farms, and said that it can serve as "an example for the rest of the world." She said she intends to speak about the issue to Israeli religious leaders on her trip.