JERUSALEM (VINnews) — After deciding just prior to Pesach to cancel the kosher cellular monopoly by allowing full mobility of kosher numbers, Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel is now enabling those with the “kosher” numbers to exchange their sim cards for a “non-kosher” phone which may be open to inappropriate content.
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Over the past decades, the kosher phones, under supervision of a committee which blocked numbers deemed inappropriate, were always recognizable by the ubiquitous prefixes used by their customers. Hendel’s decision, which he claims will increase competition and help the chareidi community obtain better prices for communications, cancels this unique feature and is sharply opposed by chareidi leaders.
The reform, due to take effect on July 31, will allow each subscriber to choose to remain with his existing package or join another more liberal package using the same number. The reform follows intense lobbying by LGBT groups anxious to see hotlines affiliated with LGBT organizations unblocked to kosher phone line subscribers. Such content is anathema to charedi Jews.
“The role of a government minister is to make decisions, even when there are those who oppose them, and to promote the welfare of all citizens and not just the welfare of a specific sector,” Hendel said on Sunday. “These reforms will grant freedom of choice to the haredi public and create additional competition which will lower prices and improve service.
“Until now, the kosher cellular market has constituted a monopoly whose conduct has hurt competition, restricted number mobility, and caused prices to rise. Where there is chaos and consumer injustice, we will fix it. Each person will be able to choose the cellular company, the type of package, and the type of device he wishes to use.
“Anyone who wishes to do so will be able to stay with the cellular company where he currently subscribes to the kosher service, for himself and his children, which includes blocking services and applications on the telephone and blocking Internet access, and will also be able to transfer his phone number to the kosher service at another cellular company. If he wishes, he will also be able to transfer his number from the kosher service to any other program offered by his cellular company, or offered by other cellular companies. In the State of Israel, there should be one law and equal conditions everywhere. It is important to emphasize that no one should be forced to do anything,” Hendel said.
“Only the account holder will be able to transfer his number, and no one under the age of 18 will be able to do so,” he added.
Chareidi politicians sharply opposed the move, with MK Uri Maklev calling it a “serious blow to a huge community…this is the act of a dictator imposing his will on a responsible sector of the population, telling them how to behave.”
Chareidi attorney Zalman Black sent a letter to Hendel prior to petitioning the Supreme Court. Black said that the decision to prevent kosher levels of phone numbers harmed the free market as it forced companies to stop providing these levels and caused a significant loss to those who specifically bought kosher phones and now find themselves with a regular phone in their hands.
The petition says that the decision is akin to preventing a company from branding since the kosher phones “help maintain chareidi cohesion and supervision of education in the institutions. Just as the transport minister would not prohibit car manufacturers from displaying the brand of their cars, chareidim who see the kosher numbers as a positive aspect of their lives should not be prevented from branding themselves in this manner.”
The petitioners said that if the minister would not accede to their request they will petition the courts for assistance on the matter.
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I’m honestly trying to understand the problem. Nobody is being forced to buy non kosher phones
The vaad harabonim did this to themselves. The people in charge have been acting like the mob when it came to control. All phone vendors and the phone companies had to give a kick back to stay in business. I know a carrier that was told that if they wanted their lines to work they would need to donate to the “right causes” in order for Kosher phones to be able to call numbers on their network.
Its reverse democracy, forcing a choice under guise of opening competition and lower prices to a group that values restricted phone use in their circle. They certainly do not want this change. This is forced on them
but these same Zionists would never infringe on Islam.
All rabbanim in Israel say to have only kosher numbers
Social engineering, has been on the lefts mind all around the world.
they want to be able to spy on all Israelis. hence, everyone should have smart phones
Very good! You don’t have to change numbers every time you change cell phone plans.
Actually the cell phone company will lose out. Right now a huge number of those who have cell phones with “kosher” numbers also have a second phone for real use. Now they will only need to have and pay for only one phone.
The government has such a pure hatred of the Chareidim.
The gov. is afraid.
And SOON
THE CHAREIDIM WILL TAKE OVER
THE CHAREIDIM HAVE LOTS OF KIDS.
NO T.V.
THE CHAREIDIM WILL BE IN CHARGE VERY SOON.
NUMBERS DONT LIE.
THE GOV ONLY KNOWS HOW TO LIE
Corrupt cult.