“There is no reason for the American companies to stop their flight and give a prize to terror.” Indeed. The cancellation of flights sends the message that terrorism works, and that Hamas doesn’t have to work all that hard to substantially hinder normal life in Israel. Did the Federal Aviation Administration decide to cancel flights to Israel as part of the Obama Administration’s general policy of constantly pressuring Israel?
“Israel Transportation Minister: Cancellation of Flights to Israel Gives a ‘Prize to Terror,’” by Shiryn Ghermezian, Algemeiner, July 22, 2014:
Israel’s Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said on Tuesday that the just announced cancellation of European and U.S. flights to Israel handed a victory to terrorism.
“There is no reason for the American companies to stop their flight and give a prize to terror,” Katz said, according to Jerusalem Post correspondent Niv Elis.
On Tuesday, four major U.S. airline carriers announced their decision to cancel flights heading to Israel indefinitely, one specifically citing the danger of Gaza rocket attacks near Israel’s Ben Gurion airport.
Shortly after the airlines announced their decision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it told all U.S. airlines that flights to the airport are prohibited for 24 hours, according to The Associated Press. German carrier Lufthansa nixed all flights to and from Tel Aviv for the next two days, according to an ABC News correspondent, and Air France also suspended its flights to Israel.
Delta said it suspended service between its hub in New York and Tel Aviv “to ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees.”
The airline said one of its Boeing 747s, headed for Tel Aviv from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport with 273 passengers and 17 crew members, on Tuesday diverted to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport following reports of a rocket or associated debris near the airport in Tel Aviv.
Israeli police confirmed that a rocket launched from Gaza landed in an area near Ben Gurion, The AP reported. The rocket caused damage to a house and slightly wounded one Israeli, police spokesperson Luba Samri said.
Delta said it “continues to work closely with U.S. and other government resources to monitor the situation,” adding, “a customer waiver for travel to Tel Aviv is in effect.”
US Airways also canceled a flight to Israel on Tuesday, according to USA Today. Flight 796, from Los Angeles, was canceled in Philadelphia before leaving for Tel Aviv.
“We are suspending operations to/from Tel Aviv until further notice,” US Airways spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm said. “We are working with government officials to ensure the safety of our customers and our employees and will continue to evaluate the situation.”
United Airlines on Tuesday canceled flights 84 and 90 from Newark to Tel Aviv, USA Today reported, and American Airlines told CNN it also suspended service to Ben Gurion airport.
Mirren10 says
Well, as everyone here knows, I support Israel unreservedly.
However, who actually * wants* to fly into a war zone ?
Having said that, this is clearly a ploy by the US government to further marginalise Israel. The correct procedure would have been to *warn* passengers of the dangers they *may* encounter, and allow them to make their own choice.
Bamaguje says
After the Malaysian airline tragedy in Ukraine, I can’t say I blame FAA or airlines for being cautious.
harbidoll says
now they must admit Israel Must be in control of all the land for their safety . the “west bank” is even closer to the airport.
dumbledoresarmy says
Not entirely offtopic:
I understand that El Al planes carry devices intended to protect the plane, under most circumstances, from incoming missiles.
Strikes me that El Al might find itself with a whole lot more customers as panicky air passengers reflect upon the (non-Islamically-motivated; there are a lot of dangerous idiots out there; though the Ummah accounts for most of them it doesn’t have a monopoly) shooting down of the Malaysian plane and ask themselves whose planes might be safest to fly with.
Not to mention that there might be some airlines discreetly ringing up the Israelis and asking, well, what sort of thing do you use and how much does it cost to install and maintain?
Passengers would pay premium if they knew they had a fair chance of being protected against surface-to-air missiles.
Oliver says
I agree- this is part of the ‘ ANTI-ZIONISTS” read Anti Semites, to marginalize Israel.
I fully support a TOTAL BUT ONLY TOTAL BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL.
It should start with cell phones (Motorola developed the basic technology in Israel; everything else was built upon that).
Then comes coputers using the PENTIUM CHIP, which is probably almost all of the modern computers. Intel developed the chip in Syria, no joking, in Israel with Israeli engineers.
Then comes the most modern medicines for MS., MD and Parkinson’s. All devekloped in Israel. By Israeli’s.
And, the Muslims?
Well, they have given us homicide bombers; bomber vests laoded with explosives; homicide bombers.
I cannot think of anything else, in the last 400+ years.
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And,as for France and their condemnation of Israel–the Socialist/marxist president (as should the US Socialist/ marxist president) read a history book. More specifically, WHAT HAPPENED TO SPAIN AFTER THEY EXILED THE JUNES. ( Incidentally, by the Jewish calendar, the date was the 9th of Av, which is a week from next Tuesday).
(Spain went into an economic decline, that lasted until after WW2-about 450 years; from a great empire to a has been). I am sure that there were other factors, but I also am sure that that was of little consolation. (Like having and losing an empire- decades before the rest of Europe).
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Just my views.
jewdog says
Kerry is working feverishly to save Hamas via a ceasefire. Maybe now he won’t be able to fly to Israel.
duh_swami says
Like everything else from the WH this is political to pressure and punish. Can we get someone else up their quickly?
Ivan Bogdanov says
Nay Minister Katz, Nay!! There is tremendous upside opportunity extant in this!!!!! Instead of presenting a defeatist posture adopt an aggressive and confident response to this inhuman behaviour. Announce an uptick of operations in the Gaza strip to counter this barbaric existential threat to the lifeline of Israeli economic prosperity. Something of this nature:
‘To combat the threat to our economic heartbeat, our airports, Israel today announces the call-up of an additional 30,000 reservists to assist in clean-up operations in the Hamas riddled Gaza strip. In order to ensure Israel’s long-term economic viability these additional forces are required to deepen and broaden the search for and elimination of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threatening our very survival.
We further announce the necessity, upon completion of the current ground operations, to deploy a restraining force in Gaza until we route out and eliminate every last terrorist employed by terrorist organisation Hamas. Our forces will remain on high alert in Gaza until such time we are satisfied we have closed all tunnels in the strip, taken possession of all missiles and eliminated Hamas’s capability to exert military posture against the nation of Israel. This situation may exist for some time.
And lastly I direct this final directive to feckless US Secretary of State John Kerry and his adolescent and addled boss Barry Soetoro: Fuck off and leave us alone, for at least the next 6-12 months, while we terminate the very existence of Hamas and its operatives in Gaza and its attendant terror organisation Fatah in the West Bank which we will soon declare within the new secure eastern borders of the great state of Israel.
Thanks for your continuing support. Yisrael Katz, Minister of Transportation.’
harbidoll says
after all that heavy work are they then going to hand gaza over to Abbas He is a man we can deal with after all.
Silvia says
I have mixed feelings about this.
OTOH, obviously, airlines have a responsibility towards their passengers and there is a duty to warn its passengers and crews. I suppose there’s also all the insurance things and whatnot. And, there’s the absolute HORROR of the Malaysian plane just days ago. I get that.
OTOH, I can’t help feeling this is another trick from Osama’s bag to screw us over for the Nth time and save his beloved soulmates Hamas.
Just look how hypocritical it all is! The US and other hypocrites tell us “React in a measured way. Don’t harm the “poor Palestinians”. You are MASSACRING them!!! BUT, at the same time, it’s SO BAD and DANGEROUS, WE ARE RUNNING AWAY!!!! So what if a little, rotten, murderous terror organization is showering you with rockets for weeks and trying to dig it’s way into your country? So what if they are a threat to your main airport? WE are going to flee because it’s too dangerous for us but YOU have to kill the MFers surgically, endanger your population, let your soldiers be killed so “innocent palestinians” aren’t “massacred”.
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS AWFUL HISTORICAL ACCIDENT CALLED OSSAMA EVER CAME TO POWER IN THE US????
Is anything going to be left in the world after he ends his presidency?
Silvia says
Robert, did you see this????
http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Exclusive-US-intelligence-source-claims-Hamas-has-many-more-tunnels-than-Israel-says-368364#
Ashley says
Is it only the US that has halted flights to Israel per a directive from the FAA? The FAA has no jurisdiction outside of the US.
I know a flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv was also scrubbed today due to the deteriorating situation.
OT: What gives with the “white flag” incident on the Brooklyn Bridge this morning? The images of the white flags on the bridge towers are chilling. Wow…talk about a serious breach in security. If the Brooklyn Bridge is guarded 24/7 as reported, how in the world could this have happened?
Who did this, and why? What was the message?
I’m not buying the “artistic expression prank” bullshit. This was sophisticated and pre-planned. Well…perhaps not “sophisticated”…aluminum turkey pans and zip ties are hardly sophisticated. Perhaps a message that our security is so lame and easily penetrated?
I find the incident deeply troubling.
Tommo says
From the amount of anti-Israeli news coming from the BBC this morning the flight cancellations is only the first of a much wider boycott of Israel being planned by the left. The bias and hate is building against Israel in all papers as well with large numbers of photographs of ‘Jewish atrocities’ against Arabs. I have never seen it so one-sided with a concerted effort conceived to sway public opinion against Israel.
Ashley says
I agree, Tommo. There is a real anti-Israel campaign underfoot.
alyn21 says
Now that Hamas rockets are affecting major cities in Israel to the point that even air traffic is affected, is this not time for the Jewish state to once and for all end the Hams threat permanently?
el-cid says
Is Mr. Obama behind this move of the FAA to punish Israel and reward Hamas?
That would be consistent with every move he has made so far.
My daughter is stranded in Israel now. Yes, other airlines from other countries follow the lead of the FAA. That is what leadership does. And, Obama’s leadership is to destroy Israel.
Ashley says
el-cid…I’m sorry to hear your daughter is stranded in Israel.
I didn’t realize commercial airlines weren’t allowed to fly out of Israel.
What a mess!
Oliver says
I have written this beofre–including as part of my rant–above–that I AGREE with a boycott of Israel–BUT BEFORE TRYING TO CRUCIFY ME, read my ENTIRE COMMENTS on it.
(And the items THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE BOYCOTT).
The assholes, i mean leftists/progressives will –if faced with that-unless stupider then beleived, probably back off.