Mobile phones with Hebrew script

Mobile phones with Hebrew as one of the select languages are being sold in Ras Al Khaimah.

A UAE national and two Palestinians approached Gulf News and said certain phones have Hebrew script.

The national said he bought a phone from a shopping mall and discovered it contained Hebrew when he was visited by a Palestinian friend and his brother who had just come from Occupied Palestine.

He said the brother was fixing settings when he discovered the Hebrew language. The national's Palestinian friend also confirmed it.

The national went back to the shopping mall and asked for an explanation. The mall said they could replace the phone or return the money, but he turned down these offers.

He stressed that all the authorities have been informed and they have promised to rid the markets of Israeli products or those with Jewish signs.

The Palestinian's brother said this is the first time he has seen a product bearing Hebrew in the UAE.

He said it is very difficult to discover something like this in a mobile phone as each usually has at least 40 languages.

Officials at the National Anti-Normalisation Committee with Israel stressed the authorities are making every effort to prevent such goods from entering UAE markets.

Abdullah Al Sharhan, a member of the committee, said: "Some products have entered the markets. We have received complaints about phones and bags with Hebrew language."

He stressed that the committee is a non-profit and volunteer organisation, but coordinates with all UAE authorities. Complaint letters sent to the authorities are taken very seriously and action is taken.

He called on people of different nationalities to report to the authorities should they see these products for it is the duty of all who live here.

Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, Director General of the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, said it is essential for the municipality to find out how these phones enter the markets.

"Inspectors will search shopping malls and shops and phones with Hebrew will be confiscated."

He said distributors should be aware of UAE policies in their own interest.

Seizing phones will cause them losses.

He added that the National Boycotting Committee searches for these kinds of goods and investigates how they are smuggled into the country.