According to a report in The Christian Science Monitor, the customs agents of Israel have received instructions from the country’s Communications Ministry to impound all Apple iPads from passengers coming from overseas.

As per the report, the move to confiscate iPads has apparently come in the wake of a discrepancy among the engineering staff of the ministry, over a means to test the compatibility of the tablet device with the wireless networks in Israel.

Noting that the iPad, currently being sold exclusively in the US, operates at broadcast power levels, over its WiFi modem, that are compatible with American standards, a statement published by the Monitor read: “As the Israeli regulations in the area of WiFi are similar to European standards, which are different from American standards, which permit broadcasting at lower power, therefore the broadcast levels of the device prevent approving its use in Israel.”

Meanwhile, one person has already had his iPad confiscated by the customs agents and placed in a customs warehouse. For having his device shipped back to the US, the person will have to submit an application to the Israeli government.

The international debut of the iPad – which, as per Apple’s recent announcement, has sold 500,000 units since its April 3-launch in the US – has been delayed till May-end, due to overwhelming demand of the device.