Israel won’t confiscate iPads anymore

Israel’s Communications Ministry announced over the weekend that it will allow personal imports of the Apple iPad into the country.

Since the iPad’s release earlier this month, Israeli customs officials had been confiscating the device from Israelis entering the country. Officials attributed the ban to a conflict with Israel’s wireless specifications that could place a strain on wireless Internet in Israel.

But a report in Time magazine suggested it might have more to do with personal politics: iDigital, Apple’s sole official Israeli importer, is owned by Chemi Peres, son of Israeli President Shimon Peres, and the ban might have been about protecting his monopoly.

A Communications Ministry statement released April 24 said, “The scrutiny conducted by the Ministry technical team vis-à-vis Apple’s team, International laboratory and European counterparts confirmed that the device which could be operated in various standards will be operated in Israel in accordance to the local standards.” — jta