The disruptions ceased after the Ministry of Communications indirectly raised the matter with the Palestinian Authority.
An Arabic-language pirate radio station seriously disrupted communications between the air traffic control tower and planes at Ben Gurion Airport last night and this morning. An investigation by Israel revealed that the station was operating in the Palestinian Authority (PA), probably in Tul-Karm.
Aviation officials did not rule out the possibility that the disruptions were intentional. When it was realized that the disruptions could cause collisions between aircraft, the Israel Airport Authority reported the matter to the Ministry of Communications, which is responsible for enforcing broadcasting laws.
The Ministry of Communications Spectrum Management Division, responsible for the wireless supervision department, ordered that locating equipment be used to determine the source of the broadcasts, whereupon it was discovered that the station was operating from PA territory. The Ministry notified the authorities handling contacts with the PA. The disruptions at the airport ceased at 11:30 this morning.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been dozens of disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport caused by Israeli, mostly haredi (ultra-orthodox) pirate radio stations. State Prosecutor's Office Economics Department Director Adv. Shimon Dolan once noted that the cost of investigating these incidents and the low fines levied on their operators result in the pirate radio stations being reopened after the operators are caught. He said that the Ministry of Justice is preparing a bill that will impose a punishment of five years' imprisonment on unauthorized radio operators who disrupt traffic.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 19 June 2001