Perhaps one could chalk this down to merely precautionary measures in the wake of Winograd, or perhaps it's reflective of an increased desire to keep some specific Israeli military planning out of the media before potential implementation.
Who knows....
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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3441036,00.html
No more cell phones in cabinet meetings
*In effort to reduce government leaks, ministers must hand in their phones before meeting starts*
Ronny Sofer Published: 08.21.07, 17:49 / Israel News <http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html>
Cell phones and other communication devices will no longer be allowed in cabinet meetings, cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel informed ministers by memorandum Tuesday. The new regulation is part of a government policy to combat leaks to the media regarding sensitive issues discussed by the cabinet.
"You must deposit communication devices prior to entering the weekly government meeting. They will be returned to you at the end of the meeting," Yehezkel's note stated.
Sources from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert <http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3440318,00.html#n>'s office said that the prohibition of cellular phones at government meetings was suggested in the interim report <http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3440318,00.html#n> released by the Winograd commission, and has since been advocated by a new committee established to determine how best to implement the Winograd commission's recommendations.
In response to the memorandum, one minister said that the regulation might harm routine government work, since having a cell phone allows ministers to communicate with their offices by text message regarding urgent issues while in the meeting.
He added that the new regulation is unnecessary, as many cabinet meetings do not deal with classified or security-related topics.
After this Sunday's cabinet metting, a rare media blackout was imposed on Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin's briefing.
Yehezkel, along with Olmert's media advisor, Yanki Galanti, explained at a press conference that the briefing contained "sensitive information that was not meant to be exposed to the Israeli public or the Palestinians." They also said that the government was beginning to implement a new policy, meant to reduce leaks on sensitive issues.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Yehezkel intends to adhere to the new policy strictly. In another attempt to reduce leaks, at last week's meeting the cabinet secretary also limited the number of people in the meeting room, removing ministerial aides and other participants who were only necessary for short parts of the meeting.
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Ministers warned leaks may lead to Shin Bet probes
*Prior to meetings on classified issues cabinet secretary to read out legal clause stating leaks from discussions could expose ministers to investigations, lie detector tests *
Ronny Sofer Published: 08.23.07, 11:43 / Israel News <http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html>
Defense discussions at the cabinet will soon open with a warning by cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel that ministers may face a Shin Bet investigation if classified information is leaked from the meeting.
As part of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's fight against government leaks, Yehezkel will read out the legal clause which refers to the leaking of classified information before each cabinet meeting dealing with sensitive materials.
"This clause gives the prime minister permission to take every necessary measure in order to find the person behind the leak," said officials at the Prime Minister's Office. "These measures could include a Shin Bet investigation, and even a lie detector test."
Several ministers told Ynet Thursday morning that the decision to warn them in order to battle leaks was bound to fail. "The decision conveys a sense of panic. There is a very unpleasant feeling that the ministers aren't being trusted," one minister said.
Another minister added that the method of threatening ministers was inappropriate. "A minister who wants to leak something would do so, if not immediately than an hour or two after the meeting. This system should be founded on trust, not on threatening ministers with Shin Bet investigations."
However, PMO officials stated that the new steps were taken as part of the implementation of the Winograd Commission report. "The public discussion surrounding this issue would minimize the phenomenon… we believe that in the long run, the government would benefit from this. The vast majority of the ministers support these measures," a senior PMO official said.