Katz Expected to Sign Six-Month Ban on Fiber-Optic and Cellular-Controlled Drones

Defense Minister Israel Katz is expected to sign a temporary order on Sunday banning drones controlled through fiber-optic cables or cellular communications across Israel’s aviation-control area. The restriction would last six months from signature and follows security cabinet approval by Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Security authorities cite threats involving hostile attacks, criminal activity, intelligence gathering and smuggling. Proposed exemptions cover security bodies and operators working for them, ground-tethered fiber-optic drones and cellular-controlled drones with existing Civil Aviation Authority approvals. An exceptions committee would examine individual requests; other drone types would remain governed by existing rules.