An independent communications infrastructure is operating in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City in violation of Israeli sovereignty, Kan News reported.
An examination conducted on the ground found that physical antennas belonging to two Palestinian Authority cellular networks have been deployed throughout the Old City.
The operational significance of the deployment was revealed through a simple test: Dialing the 100 police emergency number from a device equipped with a Palestinian Authority SIM card inside the Old City does not connect to the Israel Police emergency center, but instead is routed directly to the Palestinian Authority police emergency center.
Under the Oslo Accords, Palestinian Authority cellular operators are permitted to provide service to their subscribers traveling through Israeli territory only through roaming agreements based on connections to the infrastructure of Israeli telecommunications companies.
However, mapping conducted within the Old City walls indicates that this is not merely roaming, but the physical installation of antennas in the area.
Dan, a cybersecurity researcher who lives in the Old City, mapped the infrastructure and found 22 different Palestinian Authority antennas scattered throughout the alleyways, with a particular concentration in the Christian Quarter, providing full cellular coverage to the networks' users.
In addition to the issue of Israeli governance and sovereignty, experts are warning of a serious security risk: The installation of antennas using 2G and 3G technology could enable hostile actors to monitor and intercept communications in the area.
"It's not only the Palestinian Authority - it's Hamas and Iran as well. They can all listen in on you," one expert warned.
The Communications Ministry stated: "Upon receiving Kan News' inquiry, the Ministry's enforcement officials began examining the matter with the relevant party in order to obtain the locations of the antennas and examine the issue."
The Jerusalem Municipality stated: "An examination conducted by the Municipality found that no building permits or approvals were requested or issued for the installation of cellular antennas for Palestinian communications companies within the city."
"Regulation of communications infrastructure and the deployment of antennas fall under the exclusive authority of the Communications Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry. Should information be received or complaints submitted regarding irregularities or building violations, they will be examined by the relevant professional officials in the Municipality."