Last update - 00:00 18/12/2007
Dispensation given to ultra-Orthodox for limited Internet use
By Maayan Cohen
A rabbinical committee on communications published an announcement in the ultra-Orthodox newspapers Hamodia and Yeded Ne'eman Tuesday, giving dispensation to "those who need the Internet to earn their livelihood" to use it under supervision.
According to the ordinance, a small number of specially censored sites will be permitted for use by the business sector only. The current ordinance applies to a pilot service provided by Bezeq International, but additional censored Internet site suppliers are likely to develop in the future.
The dispensation is for a list of 'normal' sites that have undergone an adaptation especially for the sector, which includes removal of all pictures, or filtering of certain works.
This is the first time that the rabbinical committee, which was established last year to deal with third-generation cellular technology, has publicly addressed the issue of the Internet. The notice of yesterday reads as follows: "Because the transition to the use of computer communications in the world of business, institutions and others for various purposes and transmission of information is increasing, we have received more requests from those who need it, to use these systems
for their livelihood. We have been asked by our teachers and leaders, may they enjoy a long life, to find a solution that will enable the use of this medium without exposure to the terrible stumbling blocks that exist in the media, heaven forfend. And now, after a great deal of work and consideration, we have succeeded, in consultation with experts,
in arriving at a technical blocking solution that will allow access to just email, or to certain sites necessary for a person's livelihood."
The announcement also declares that the committee has approached communications companies that supply such infrastructure and services, and requested that they provide the observant "a special plan that will be subject to our supervision. A number of companies have responded to our request, and those who wish can be connected to the special plan."
In the past, the rabbinical committee for communications issues which includes representatives of all streams of the ultra-Orthodox sector has approved the use of the 'kosher' telephones for speaking only, with no content or text messaging. The second issue that the committee has been asked to discuss is the Internet issue, for which no solution had been found to date.
A senior source in the ultra-Orthodox sector said that official data indicates that about 60 percent of the ultra-Orthodox sector have computers at home, and about 35 percent of these admit that they have access to Internet service.
But true numbers are believed much higher, the source said, with about 40 percent of the ultra-Orthodox sector connected to the Internet at home.