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4 Nissan 5765 - April 13, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Ramat Beit Shemesh Residents Fight Cellular Antenna

By Betzalel Kahn

Hundreds of Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef residents demonstrated against the erection of a high-power Cellcom antenna near residential buildings on Sederot Nachal Hakishon. Police used force against the demonstrators and even arrested four, who were kept in detention for several hours.

When local residents learned of Cellcom's intentions to erect the cellular antenna atop a 90-foot electrical pole nearby they decided to put a stop to the company's plans since numerous studies show exposure to radiation from such antennas poses a health hazard.

"Doesn't our opinion count?" demanded one local resident who complained neither Cellcom nor the municipality notified the public before beginning work. "Can the municipality make such decisions without hearing what residents have to say?"

During the course of the demonstration the moro d'asro, HaRav Shlomo Zalman Perlstein, arrived at the site to try to persuade the work supervisors to halt the erection of the antenna. At a meeting with Cellcom a company worker showed disrespect toward the Moro D'Asro, saying, "We have licenses and we will erect the antenna in spite of residents' opposition."

Community activists, together with City Councilor Rabbi Moshe Montag, tried to persuade Cellcom heads to stop work immediately and HaRav Perlstein even spoke with company CEO, David Laron, who promised to look into the matter.

According to a statement from the Forum of Cellular Companies, "The transmission site located on Sederot Nachal Kishon in Ramat Beit Shemesh received all of the permits required by law, including a permit from the Environmental Ministry guaranteeing its operation is safe. All transmission sites located in Israel meet the strict safety standards adopted by the World Health Society and operate in accordance with the demands of the Environmental Ministry. Before the erection of any cellular transmitting site theoretical testing is conducted by an independent testing team authorized to do so."

 

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