Israel’s state privatisation committee has put sale of the national telephone monopoly on hold until its cellular phone and international services are opened to competition, Reuter reports from Jerusalem, noting that the decision will delay a bid by Southwestern Bell Corp with Israel’s Clal Industries Ltd to gain control of the company, Bezeq; other international companies had also expressed an interest in Bezeq, but the defence ministry has told the committee that it had reservations about selling Bezeq to non-Israeli companies for national security reasons; the government will cut its stake to 51% from 75% and shares will be offered in tranches on Tel Aviv’s Stock Exchange; once liberalisation is completed, the government intends to sell its controlling stake in the company.
