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Ministry blocks iPads from entering Israel
Meirav Crystal
Published: 15.04.10, 14:45
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23 Talkbacks for this article
1. iPad Ban
newzgeek ,   Tel Aviv   (04.15.10)
What the iPad ban in Israel is really all about - http://blog.israeltech.net/ipad-ban/
2. Suppose someone uses an internet modem
jason white ,   afula,israel   (04.15.10)
like Netstick? We need a lot less of government and their strong arm tactics. Let the storage fees be paid from the salaries of the "workers" in the communications ministry.
3. bloody disgrace
(04.15.10)
one problem that has always been with Israel is that they have a habit of ripping off their own citizens. Many travellers would have spent $700 which is a large sum on an ipad for themselves or as a gift and are now being told they have to pay for "storage" or sell it to a "salesperson". Plus the wifi reason sounds like a load of tosh. instead of punishing the buyers fix the wifi. This would never happen elsewhere in the world only Israel. this ipad policy is just a further tax on the citizens. Not Good.
4. all lies and about money
JO   (04.15.10)
a monopoly wants to steal from us. The tech talk is not backed up in engineering.
5. it's just like with cars... utter stupidity
Morris ,   Ashkelon, Israel   (04.15.10)
I love, it's not "compatible" with the Israeli wifi standard. I've got news for you: you'd better start banning the brining in of wireless routers then too. I love it, this is what happens when a "friend" or "coalition member" is appointed to a government post that shouldn't actually be there because he doesn't specialize in the field. It's just like what this country does with cars: Ford Mustangs are banned because Ford refused to suit the headlights to the "Israeli standard." Let's think about it: the "Israeli" standard is being used by 7.5 million people here while the American standard is being used by over 300 million people in the US and Canada. Oh yes, the Israeli standard must be better...
6. Surprised talkbackers are not calling this anti semetic
David ,   Tel Aviv   (04.15.10)
they call everything else it these days.
7. The Wi FI is a lone Jew.....
Steven Wilson ,   Anchorage, Alaska   (04.15.10)
without a country. Copy the thing and do the same thing Steve Jobs did. Borrow the technology.
8. I never intended to buy Version#1 anyway!
We know how things ,   work.   (04.15.10)
By the time version #2 comes up, iDigital, Apple and the Minisri of Communications will understand that the Ghetto mentality will not work. Once iDigital will start importing iPad, the MoC will have no reason to ban and confiscate them at the airport. They may have stopped the first "wave" and forced Israelis to wait until iDigital brings them in "officially", but if iDigital gest greedy as usual, people will start buying abroad - whether iDigital or MoC like it or not! Applying predatory tactics to prevent the public the natural right of choice, is counter-productive in the long run.
9. #3 "only in Israel"??
(04.15.10)
Well, well - you must be a very travelled man. Just for the record - the moment somebody says "never", "always" and "only", I "always" look the other way! Go moan somewhere else.
10. Naw, just the regular Bolshevist bureaucracy
Brian Cohen ,   PeoplesFront ofJudea   (04.15.10)
Aw c'mon, folks. This is simply a case of underpaid peter-principled government clerks getting their rocks off. The guys at the ministry of communications are like their buddies in the ministries of health and other government ministries - always willing to flex some muscle for the power rush. Sometimes they're even waiting for a bribe. Sometimes they're just mean. Who knows what the real reason is. Apple computers overloading Israel's wifi network? How do these small numbers of iPads use up all the resources? I'd love to hear a technical explanation, cuz it sounds like a lot of baloney to me.
11. In Israel we call this law: SHOCHAT
Israeli 2   (04.16.10)
One of the reasons I stay in USA.
12. Boycott the Israel Apple distributor
jason white ,   afula,israel   (04.16.10)
and tell Apple why. No more Apple products till this law is changed and the Israeli Apple distributor pays for all the storage fees and other costs to the customers with interest.
13. Is This Story About Israel, or China?
Joseph Blough ,   USA   (04.16.10)
The story stinks of censorship and government manipulation, so I find it hard to believe that it is actually occurring in the only democracy in the Middle East. Not supporting the standard is one thing, but to impose such draconian laws serves only to bring into question whether Israel is anything remotely close to a true democracy.
14. I'm happy thanks to Israeli stupidity
miros ,   Caesarea   (04.16.10)
that during our family stay in US we could buy 7 (seven) iPads that we just brought with us yesterday to Israel, with no customs problems. We kept only two, the five others are already sold, with a premium of about 90%. Thank you, Israeli customs and Communications Ministry: you made our day. Keep forbidding and we'll keep smuggling :-)
15. @ #12
Miros ,   Cesarea   (04.16.10)
Dear Jason, it would be fully stupid to boycott the distributor who has nothing to do with the iPads bought in the US and brought into Israel by travellers. Such a proposal could have only come from Afuzla :-)
16. Poorly researched article - tech talk doesn't make sense
Dror ,   Israel   (04.16.10)
Something can't be right. What Israeli WiFi specifications? They are the same all over the world. Most WiFi routers in Israel are from the States (Cisco, Netgear,..)! Also, this sentence makes no sense: "will place a strain on the wireless internet in Israel, " What wireless internet in Israel?? A WiFi is always a single network created by an organization or a person in limited area. There is not ONE Wireless network of Israel.
17. I agree w #16: Tech talk don't make sence
Rami of Nazareth ,   Israel   (04.16.10)
iPhones are allowed in and they have same Wi-Fi technology. If iPhones are not banned then there must be another reason for banning iPad, beside the Wi Fi excuse
18. To #4 Morris this decision is made at professional level
jason ,   haifa israel   (04.16.10)
This decision isn't made by the minister I read he wasn't even told. This decision is made by professionals no matter who is the minister or coalition member. That is way it should be or else you'd have complete anarchy in govt.
19. to #15 Too bad a smuggler like you has to
jason white ,   afula,israel   (04.16.10)
make some money like that. Try reading the last paragraph. The official importers, the ones that double the price.
20. A lot of things and laws...
Edu ,   Herzlya   (04.17.10)
don't make sence in Israel. A big russian/comunist influence? May be?
21. If apple did not pay shakedown to Minister they cannot enter
Tayfun_Turkey ,   Istanbul   (04.18.10)
Israel is very sensitive in bribing and extortion and they will immmediately stop entries to Israel
22. TYPHOON THE BABOON BUFFOON, forgot that baksheesh is Turkish
Genuine Tosefta ,   Tveria   (04.18.10)
word, out of convenience. This kind of things happen in Ottoman lands (current and former) on a regular basis and no one gets exited about it. Because it is so rare in Israel it makes big news when it does happen here. But it is not possible to expect this Turkish Clown to understand such fine differences.
23. GENUINE BABOON of Tosefta :See Ynet for recent Corruptions
Tayfun_Turkey ,   Istanbul   (04.18.10)
Certain I am aware you cannot rely on only number of news pieces as a quantitative measure to assess how widespread corruption is in Israel. However as a qualitative approach focus on single posts if next incumbant would commit the same corruption. We see Jarusalam Major, Israeli Prime Ministers, and Ministers as well as other governmental workers are all involved in corruption and that repeats as soon as new one appointed Picture shows corruption is deeply rooted in Israeli society and Israel is decaying and collapsing. As you are so happly with a corrupted society I guess you are occupying a position receiving well of them.
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