Olmert Orders Ban on Mobile Phones During Israeli Cabinet Meetings

22 August 2007

Bethlehem – Ma'an - The BBC has reported that Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has banned cabinet ministers from using mobile telephones during Cabinet meetings, in a bid to cut down on information leaked during supposedly confidential meetings.

In a memo, itself leaked to the press, Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel states that mobile telephones and other communications devices will be returned to ministers after the meeting.

The ban follows reports that an unnamed member of the Israeli Cabinet was speaking on their mobile telephone throughout a confidential security briefing given by Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin during last Sunday's meeting. The minister was allegedly scolded by Prime Minister Olmert, before a media blackout on Diskin's report was launched,to combat any potential leaked information.

The BBC further states, "Agency reports suggest it is not unknown for senior Israeli officials to call reporters and leave their mobile phone running during meetings, so journalists can hear what is going on."