Indeed, the ban sends the signal that terrorism works, and that the Western powers do not have the will to fight against it, but instead are all too willing to acquiesce to it and change their behavior accordingly.
“World suspension of Israel flights a ‘great victory’: Hamas,” AFP, July 23, 2014:
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Hamas said Wednesday that the suspension of international flights to and from Israel over security concerns about Gaza rocket fire was a “great victory.”
“The success of Hamas in closing Israeli airspace is a great victory for the resistance, and is the crown of Israel’s failure,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
A rocket fired from the embattled Palestinian territory hit near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Tuesday, prompting US and European airlines to suspend all flights to and from the Jewish state.
The flight ban was still in place on Wednesday, as Israel bombarded Gaza for a 16th straight day in an operation to stop rocket fire and destroy tunnels constructed by Hamas, the main power in the territory.
Since the operation began on July 8, militants have fired 2,120 rockets or mortar rounds at Israel, 1,752 of which have hit the Jewish state, according to the army.
Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system has intercepted 433 rockets.
AnneM says
Read online that Israel has another airport, towards Eilot and they will use it to get flights started again.
Arjay says
Many people may think that the ban on airlines only means fewer tourists in Israel. However, a huge amount of International trade is done via the air. And Hamas doesn’t care that if goods and products don’t come into Israel… a lot of that stuff won’t be transferred to Gaza.
Also, for the airlines of the world… by cancelling these flights, what are you acknowledging? You are not fearing Israeli Jews. It is the Hamas Muslims that pose a threat to international air travel.
islamisdeath says
just saw that Bloomberg is continuing flights to Israel. Didn’t know Bloomberg had an airline. I was just walking by and saw it on the screen.
AnneM says
This will make “EL AL” very, very popular.
Liza says
With such a threat to its economy, Israel has little choice but to go deeper into Gaza and shut down Hamas once and for all. Hamas’s rockets might just backfire.
jimjames says
I am very upset with this decision to stop flights to Israel. This is not the Ukraine nor is it Libya. I am just as upset that Secretary Kerry is talking cease-fire as Israel is engaged in a war with not yet completed goals. Peace can be gained from this conflict because Israel defending itself has drawn together similar thinking peoples in the Region. This is a new coalition which the US has little to do with. The US seems to get on better with Qatar and Turkey. Funny thing- I thought that Qatar supported Hamas an out growth of the Muslim Brotherhood. The US actually betrayed Mubarak in Egypt and thus opened the door for The Muslim Brothers to win an election. The people rose against the Muslim Brothers but what is the US doing?
MBR says
The decision not to land in Israel will be driven largely by airline insurance considerations. The timing of MH17 has been bad for Israel, fortuitous for Hamas.
My wife and I flew over south-eastern Ukraine four days before MH17 was shot down. The airline subsequently rerouted. They would be crazy not to. Put yourself in the airlines’ position. What would you do?
dumbledoresarmy says
You wrote – “The timing of MH17 has been bad for Israel, fortuitous for Hamas.”
Not so bad as all that.
Because here in Australia, at least, the media feeding frenzy was instantly distracted from events in and around Gaza and Israel and refocused, instead, obsessively, upon the downed Malaysian airplane, its passengers, whodunnit, and the ensuing arguments between all affected parties.
In the past week I would have seen, on the Aussie ABC online newsportal, where they put their “just in” headlined stories, many more stories relating to the fallout from the rocketing of this Malaysian plane, than sob stories focusing on the Pooooor “Palestinians” [sic].
Every now and again there’d be an update on the situation in Gaza, but it was definitely NOT the focus of attention for quite a while. And it wasn’t making headlines in the newspapers, either.
Platypus says
Democratic nations must find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend. -Margaret Thatcher
RS says
A sign of a weakened Hamas? They have to claim a victory for something, otherwise they risk coming up out of their holes underground when this is over with nothing to show for their recent activities but having brought devastation on their own people. This time I don’t think Palestinian civilians are going to be so celebratory.
Pennswoods says
These massive demonstrations in Europe are the law of unintended consequences at work. Jews in Europe like the American in Sweden Barbara Spectre, Alan Shatter in Eire, and Anetta Kahane and many others like them push for a more multicultural and “diverse” Europe that is less white and more inclusive. This “diverse” Europe was supposed to end the domination of Europe by as a white and Christian continent and break down Western Civilization at last in order that Jews would have a “safe home” at last in a Europe where 2,000+ years of animosity toward Jews was at last ended and Jews would be free from persecution. How can the migration of 25 million + Muslims into Europe over the past 40 years be a positive contribution for Jews or anyone else living in Europe today or in the future? It can only get worse. Liberal, left wing, and Orthodox Jews asked for this catastrophic ethnic change by massive migration into in Europe. So did indigenous left wing idealists who wanted more than anything to end Western Christian Civilization. Both groups got their wish. Live with it Europe and stop your whining please.
Lorensacho says
Hamas spokesmen are so proud to call themselves the ‘resistance’. My question is, resistance to what? Tolerance for other religions, women’s equality, gay rights, democracy, justice, the sanctity of life, love? Hamas rejects all of these values. It is Hamas that should be resisted. Yet every day, respectable newspapers and TV news shows go out of their way to provide Hamas’ story unable to say that Hamas has a single value that we in the West cherish for our own rights and freedoms. When Hamas supporters dance to the news of Israeli deaths and kidnapped soldiers, the Fourth Estate provides the musical accompaniment.
Brian Hoff says
Pam Am went out of bussien due to flight 103 being blowen up in the air. Air Liners must show legality they are condiring the safty of they passenger and crew to avoid lawsuits.
jack says
these hamas idiots will claim anything no matter how tiny and hand out their stupid fucking treats. Now if they were giving out a few cold ones – different story
Hold it, is this not Ramalamadingdong so no candies and no brewskies