After hearing the concerns of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz regarding a decision by the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee to eliminated restrictions on cellular telephone imports, Defense Minister Ehud Barak is requesting the committee reconsider.

So what’s the connection to the IDF command and a Knesset move to lower the price of mobile phones? It appears that the deregulation permits importing any cellular telephone that is approved in either North America of Europe. Ganz explains some of the models, which were prohibited in the past, may interfere with military communications, citing the Iron Dome rocket defense system as an example.

Barak has instructed his staff to file the request which contains a recommendation to establish a committee that will monitor imports. This committee would also have representatives of the Defense Ministry on it to ensure the imports do not compromise military operations.

It does appear the Knesset committee is receptive and a monitoring committee will most likely be established in the coming days.

The good news is that the deregulation will result in a decrease in the price of smart phones sold in Israel, in some cases by a few hundred NIS.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)