Bring an iPad into Israel, and it will be confiscated

[Newsjock]

Source: Haaretz

If you had thought to buy Apple's new iPad tablet computer any time soon and bring it to Israel, you may have to change your plans: Starting yesterday, the Communications Ministry has blocked the import of iPads to Israel, and the customs authority has been directed to confiscate them.

The decision follows the refusal of the ministry's engineering staff to compromise on testing the device's suitability and compliance with Israeli wireless networks. It seems however that the engineers made their decision without notifying Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon in advance - and caused an uproar within the ministry.

For now, the ministry has not given the device categorical approval required for wireless devices; and ministry officials say its wireless technology is not compatible with Israeli standards.

... An Israeli who returned from the U.S. yesterday told TheMarker that when he tried to declare his new iPad at customs, it was confiscated. He was told to apply to the Communications Ministry to have it returned. When he spoke to the ministry, he was told: "It is forbidden to bring iPads into Israel; send it back overseas."

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1162992.html

[GodlessBiker]

1. Bizarre.

If the device isn't compatible, then it's the iPad purchaser who is out of luck.

[Ezlivin]

2. That's not kosher!

N/T

[no limit]

3. Do they have socialized wifi they give to everyone or something?

For all the talk in this country about how bad socialism is they don't seem to mind funding socialism over there.

[Oregone]

4. First controversial Israeli policy I can agree with

Confiscate them and smash the fuck out of them in front of the nerds who dropped the dough on the latest must-have piece of shit.

[Tesha]

12. Seek help. (NT)

[Lance_Boyle]

5. Not compatible with Israeli wifi? Bullshit. Does Israel have a wifi standard other than

IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, or n)?

Granted, the ipad has wireless issues (in all countries) that Apple has acknowledged, but it's wireless networking innards are not anything new or bizarre.

[Toucano]

6. Gates got to 'em!

They've been bought, I tell ya!

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I don't understand why compatibility matters

The article refers to broadcast power levels, but it doesn't say if the iPad's WiFi power level is considered potentially harmful to the existing networks. If so, then that would justify banning the device. Otherwise, why should it matter?

[Me.]

8. Because Israeli Intelligence Can't Then Access Then?

[DavidDvorkin]

10. I'm sure they can access them

I think this is something else, nothing to do with the spookocracy.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Now we'll see what happens when the unstoppable force of Israel-hate meets the immovable object of

Apple Loathing and Cool Technology Gadget-Hate.

Duck! :hide:

[UndertheOcean]

11. This is very bizarre indeed ... almost "Banana Republic" ..n/t