The Israeli Communications Ministry has issued an order prohibiting the import of iPads to Israel. Customs officials were ordered to confiscate the devices and conduct a full body cavity search of the owners.

The ministry's engineering staff refused to approve the device for the Israeli market and it seems that their decision didn't go down within the ministry itself. In the end the ministry did not give its approval, saying the iPad is not compatible with Israeli standards. Since the ministry announced its decision yesterday, 10 iPads were confiscated at Ben-Gurion International Airport despite the fact that their owners declared them and offered to pay VAT.

It seems the only way of importing the iPad into Israel is from Egypt, through a tunnel to the besieged Gaza Strip and then onwards to Israel proper. We're not sure the IDF would look kindly on this, so the iPad could end up with a few extra 5.56mm holes or a stylish tank track texture on its shiny aluminium chassis.

Oh yes, we made up the full body cavity search bit.

More here.