Israel to Temporarily Ban Fiber Optic and SIM-Controlled Drones

Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba

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Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz will sign an order on Sunday temporarily banning fiber optic and SIM-controlled drones nationwide for six months. The decision addresses escalating security threats, including drone attacks and smuggling, and was approved by the Prime Minister and security cabinet. The ban includes specific exceptions for security forces and pre-approved drones, with a committee to handle further exemption requests.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Defense Minister Israel Katz will sign an order banning fiber optic and SIM-controlled drones for six months.
The temporary ban aims to address escalating security threats from internal and external adversaries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security cabinet approved the drone prohibition.
The measure is part of broader efforts including import bans and regulatory oversight.
Exceptions are included for security forces and previously approved drones.

Israel to Temporarily Ban Fiber Optic and SIM-Controlled Drones — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Defense Minister Israel Katz is set to sign an order this Sunday prohibiting the operation of drones controlled via fiber optic cables or cellular (SIM) communication within Israel's entire flight information region. This temporary measure will be in effect for six months from the date of signing and is intended to provide a security response while further solutions are developed.

The decision stems from concrete intelligence and escalating threats from both internal and external adversaries. These threats include drone attacks, assassination attempts on senior officials, criminal use of drones, intelligence gathering, and smuggling operations. Given the severity and variety of these threats, a response is needed for both security zones and borders, as well as for drone-related terrorism within Israel.

This prohibition is part of a broader set of measures to counter the drone threat, which also includes import bans and regulatory oversight. The move was approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz in the Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs, following extensive discussions and staff work led by the National Security Council in cooperation with security agencies.

The ban specifically targets fiber optic and SIM-controlled drones. Other types of drones are not affected and can continue to be operated according to existing regulations and directives. The Defense Minister will sign the order under his authority granted by the Aviation Law, after consulting with the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority and completing the public comment period, as required by the Ministry of Justice.

The proposed order includes defined exceptions for security forces or their representatives, for fiber optic drones connected to the ground, and for SIM-controlled drones that received appropriate approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority before the order takes effect. A special committee will also be established to review requests for exemptions from this order.