Israel Blocks Import Of iPad For Natives And Tourists Alike

Israel is blocking imports of Apple's new iPad device until its officials can verify that the tablet computer complies with local transmitter standards and does not interfere with other wireless devices. "If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference," said Nati Schubert, a senior deputy director for the country's Communications Ministry, according to a report from the Associated Press. He added, "We don't care where people buy their equipment. ... But without regulation, you would have chaos." Schubert noted that her department's U.S. counterpart, the Federal Communications Commission, allows wireless devices to broadcast at higher power levels than what's allowed in Europe and Israel. While Israel's wireless standards are similar to those of other European nations, no other country is blocking imports of the gadget. The country's iPad ban, which prevents citizens and even tourists from bringing the device into Israel, should not affect those who managed to import one before the regulations took effect last week. As of last Thursday, custom officials in Israel had already confiscated around 10 of the Apple tablets. Israel's customs agency will hold those iPads for a daily storage fee and return them to their owners (or ship the devices back to them at their expense) when they leave the country. While the WiFi-only edition of the iPad debuted in the U.S. on April 3rd, Apple delayed the tablet's international launch by one month to the end of May, citing "surprisingly strong" demand for the tablet that resulted in sales of more than 450,000 units with a week after its release. Schubert expects Israel to resolve its issues with the iPad as the international release approaches.