Israeli politician seeks ISP blocks for online gambling

27.02.2008

The anti-online gambling political climate in Israel was again evident this week as Member of the Knesset Amnon Cohen introduced a bill requiring internet service providers to automatically block all sex, gambling and violence-oriented websites.

The news publication Haaretz reports that the bill requires customers who want to enter such sites to specifically request access from their Internet provider.

During the first reading, the Economic Affairs Committee legal adviser said that he would find it difficult to defend Cohen's bill in the High Court of Justice in light of the refusal of Communications Minister Ariel Atias to provide a list of sites to be blocked for the committee's approval.

The Economic Affairs Committee meanwhile rejected a bill submitted earlier by MK Alex Miller, which aimed to force Internet providers to give customers a pamphlet instructing users on how to block websites.