Ministers want cellular antennas left on balconies

Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra is still trying to reach an agreement with the cellular phone companies to allow antennas to be installed on residential balconies, even though the Knesset has approved regulations against such antennas. Ezra's attempts to act behind the Knesset's back were exposed by TheMarker (in Hebrew) on Sunday.

In light of the revelation, Ezra is trying to put the blame for circumventing the Knesset on Communications Minister Ariel Atias.

Three weeks have passed since the regulations applying to the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law were approved by the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, and the regulations have still not been officially published - and therefore have not taken effect.

It seems Ezra has decided to try to reach understandings with the cellular operators concerning antenna installations on residential balconies.

"The wording approved by the Knesset was different from what the Communications Minister agreed to and therefore the text was given to Atias for a new round of comments, as part of the legal requirement," Ezra said. "The Communications Minister has yet to respond officially, and as long as he has not approved it, it is impossible to publish the regulations."

Atias seems to be Ezra's partner in the attempt to reach an agreement with the cellular firms, which claimed that Atias had agreed the day before the committee voted that the restrictions would not be part of the regulations.

The restrictions on placing cellular antennas on balconies could have far-reaching consequences for the operators and could make it difficult for them to continue expanding their networks. Every antenna receives a permit for five years, after which the permits must be renewed. This means that antennas on balconies would have to be removed after five years.

MK Ofir Pines-Paz, chairman of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, responded angrily to the attempt to reach an agreement with the cellular companies after the regulations were approved.

"I am dumbfounded and find it hard to believe that the government is acting in such a manner behind the Knesset's back while grossly deceiving the public. This is a scandal. I will initiate a special emergency session, possibly even this week, on the matter to decide how to proceed, and in the meantime I will not advance any bills or regulations [proposed by] the cabinet," he said.

"It is impossible to believe that after we voted on regulations with Ezra present and with his agreement, someone is still trying to apply economic and political pressure to hide the regulations away in a drawer.