Israel: Finance Minister says he can block Golan-Cellcom deal

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said on Monday that his ministry has the authority to block the sale of discount mobile provider Golan Telecom to its competitor Cellcom.

“We will not allow the sale of Golan Telecom to Cellcom. In recent days I’ve been hearing that the Finance Ministry does not have authority to stop the sale. I’m telling you that we do have the authority,” he said at a Calcalist conference in Ashdod.

The Economy Ministry’s Antitrust Authority and the Communications Ministry are the regulators most often cited as having say in such a deal. The seat of the Antitrust Commissioner. however, has been vacant since the end of the summer.

Golan, he said, had received permission from the state to use cellular frequencies as part of the reform. “You don’t want to use the frequency? Give it back to the state,” he said, adding that “Nobody here will take a ride on the backs of the citizens.”

Full content: Haaretz

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