A new program to determine the number of indictments and investigations to bring against pirate radio operators will be debated on Thursday in a special Knesset session to be chaired by Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz.

Mofaz serves as head of a ministerial committee which works to disrupt pirate radio broadcasts which interfere with the functioning of air traffic control at Ben-Gurion International Airport, endangering both incoming and outgoing flights.

A special investigative team will closely monitor the implementation of the program which will determine how many cases will be brought against pirate radio operators this year.

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The team comes as a result of recommendations made by Attorney General Meni Mazuz during a special meeting in Jerusalem last week.Reports indicate that today more than 200 pirate radio stations operate in Israel, especially in the Jerusalem and Netanya areas.

The stations are most closely associated with the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party Shas, and are intended for an audience of observant Sephardi Jews.

Other pirate radio stations operating in Israel are closely affiliated with the Palestinian Authority.

The Police Economic Crimes Investigative unit is set to concentrate manpower and resources in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications to fight the pirate radio problem. The economic department of the Attorney General's office is also set to take part in fighting pirate radio stations.

Mazuz is expected to push for more severe penalties for pirate radio broadcasters, including jail time and stiff fines.

As part of the new campaign, authorities will focus on pirate radio station owners and also the advertisers who fund the broadcasts.