iPad Continues to Gain Market Share: Israel ends ban

Israel had previously banned the iPad and confiscated some of them out of fear that it would interfere with their electronic signals. This is especially true in Israel where they are fearful of any interference with their secret and high tech observations of their neighbors, especially Iran. Even tourists were prohibited from bringing in the iPad just when Apple was starting its blitz in gaining foreign market sales. The tourists and visitors were even charged a storage fee when the iPad was confiscated at Ben-Gurion international airport. Israel was considerate enough in that they gave the tourists a choice of paying a storage fee or paying for the iPad to be shipped home.

When the ban was first announced many stated that we should ban Israeli products; not that they make many that the American consumer can use, besides oranges and cheap suits. Yes, they do have high tech products but produce them because of the extra money they have due to American aid. No mention of this uproar was reported by the pro-Israeli press here in the United States.

But, this ban was suddenly reversed, as announced by the head of the communications ministry Moshe Kahlon. Tests conducted by Israeli technology experts have now given the all clear to the iPad. The iPad has now been taken off the Israeli “cherem” which is the list of things prohibited from entering the Jewish state.

The device does require an additional “app” for the user to be able to type in Hebrew. Israel uses the same standards as the EU (European Union) and it was odd that no protests at all came out of Europe.