December 17, 2007
Palestinians Get Cell Phone Network
Israel will allow the Palestinians to set up a new cell phone network, Israeli defense officials said, part of warming relations between the sides. The Associated Press reports.
"Israel has four wireless networks, but the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have only one, which has operated since the 1990s with Israeli approval.
Israel controls all frequencies for cell phones in the West Bank and Gaza. Since violence erupted between the sides in 2000, Israel's defense ministry has turned down repeated Palestinian requests to establish a second network to meet growing demand, the Israeli officials said.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak reversed that policy last week, the officials said Sunday, because Palestinians and Israelis are moving ahead with peace talks. Negotiations officially began last week in Jerusalem.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Barak's decision has not yet been officially announced.
Palestinians telecommunications officials were not available for comment."
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