ITU Condemns Israeli Violations of Lebanese Telecoms Sector

Saturday 23 October 2010

ITU Condemns Israeli Violations of Lebanese Telecoms Sector

23/10/2010 Another condemnation of the Israeli flagrant violations of the Lebanese Telecommunications sector was issued on Friday…

Indeed, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference in Mexico condemned the Israeli enemy’s violation of Lebanon's telecommunications sector, saying that the sector has and is still being subject to Israeli interference.

The conference’s final statement said that Lebanon's "mobile phone and land lines are being subject to Israeli piracy, interference, and obstruction."

It stressed Lebanon's "complete right" to be compensated for the harms that have been inflicted on the telecommunications network.

The condemnation came after extensive efforts by Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas to convince the 124 participants to condemn Israel and the outcome was 43 voting in favor, 23 against, and 57 abstentions.

Speaking to Lebanese daily As-Safir, Nahhas praised the efforts of the Lebanese delegation, which faced something similar to a diplomatic war in its complaint and conviction against Israel, adding that the delegation's decision has the same impact as that of the UN on the telecommunication level.

Meanwhile, the head of the Information and Telecoms parliamentary committee in Lebanon MP Hasan Fadlallah told As-Safir that the condemnation is a "major Lebanese accomplishment and the document is damning evidence that proves the extent of Israel's assault on the telecommunications sector."

Fadlallah said that the Israeli telecommunication violations included espionage and technical control, which will need intense supervision and follow up by the government, in order to take advantage of this ITU stance, especially in the context of accusing Israel of its aggression. He also stressed that the government should work thoroughly in protecting the telecommunication sector, under the frame of protecting Lebanon in confrontation with the enemy.

As-Safir reported that Hezbollah will soon hold a press conference during which it will present "very important" facts in the matter and confirm that Israel totally controls the telecommunications sector.