Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI1105
2009-11-24 08:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE Unblocks Access to Top Israeli Internet Domain ".il"
how-toVZCZCXRO6761 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #1105 3280800 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 240800Z NOV 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3129 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 8515 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0672 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0299
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001105
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPAO SCUL TINT IS AE
SUBJECT: UAE Unblocks Access to Top Israeli Internet Domain ".il"
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001105
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPAO SCUL TINT IS AE
SUBJECT: UAE Unblocks Access to Top Israeli Internet Domain ".il"
1. (SBU) The United Arab Emirates unblocked access to web sites on
the Israeli country code top-level domain ".il" earlier this month.
Syria and the UAE were the only two countries in the Middle East and
North Africa blocking the Israeli domain, a largely symbolic action
because internet users can access Israeli content at websites using
".com" or other domains.
2. (SBU) The OpenNet Initiative, a collaboration between four leading
universities in the US, UK, and Canada, reported November 20 that
".il" web sites are accessible from the UAE, likely for the first
time. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA),the entity
responsible for internet censorship in the UAE, has occasionally been
criticized for blocking specific internet content at the request of
government officials. Nevertheless, the UAE's internet censorship
policy is generally considered to be consistent and transparent.
Internet users are informed when they attempt to access a site
blocked by the government. Blocked sites in the UAE are typically
those with controversial content relating to politics or religion, in
addition to the straightforward censorship of gambling, pornography,
alcohol and drug use, gay and lesbian issues, and some online dating
services.
3. (C/NF) Ambassador contacted the de facto UAE spokesman to
ascertain the political significance of this step. Spokesman, after
checking, said that the UAE had taken the step because it was
embarrassed to be in the company of Syria as a lone holdout in the
Arab world on this issue. Spokesman said there would be no public
announcement of the shift and the UAEG hoped not to attract attention
to its decision.
4. (C) Comment. The unblocking of the Israeli internet domain is a
minor concession that may have more political than practical impact.
An abundance of Israeli content was and continues to be accessible in
the UAE under other domains. Allowing users to access ".il" web
sites is a subtle statement that should be seen as the UAE moving to
end an anomalous "hard line" stance on normalization issues. End
Comment.
OLSON
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPAO SCUL TINT IS AE
SUBJECT: UAE Unblocks Access to Top Israeli Internet Domain ".il"
1. (SBU) The United Arab Emirates unblocked access to web sites on
the Israeli country code top-level domain ".il" earlier this month.
Syria and the UAE were the only two countries in the Middle East and
North Africa blocking the Israeli domain, a largely symbolic action
because internet users can access Israeli content at websites using
".com" or other domains.
2. (SBU) The OpenNet Initiative, a collaboration between four leading
universities in the US, UK, and Canada, reported November 20 that
".il" web sites are accessible from the UAE, likely for the first
time. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA),the entity
responsible for internet censorship in the UAE, has occasionally been
criticized for blocking specific internet content at the request of
government officials. Nevertheless, the UAE's internet censorship
policy is generally considered to be consistent and transparent.
Internet users are informed when they attempt to access a site
blocked by the government. Blocked sites in the UAE are typically
those with controversial content relating to politics or religion, in
addition to the straightforward censorship of gambling, pornography,
alcohol and drug use, gay and lesbian issues, and some online dating
services.
3. (C/NF) Ambassador contacted the de facto UAE spokesman to
ascertain the political significance of this step. Spokesman, after
checking, said that the UAE had taken the step because it was
embarrassed to be in the company of Syria as a lone holdout in the
Arab world on this issue. Spokesman said there would be no public
announcement of the shift and the UAEG hoped not to attract attention
to its decision.
4. (C) Comment. The unblocking of the Israeli internet domain is a
minor concession that may have more political than practical impact.
An abundance of Israeli content was and continues to be accessible in
the UAE under other domains. Allowing users to access ".il" web
sites is a subtle statement that should be seen as the UAE moving to
end an anomalous "hard line" stance on normalization issues. End
Comment.
OLSON