Wednesday, July 23, 2014

FAA Ban on Israel. Ted Cruz enraged, Netanhayu: FAA ban on flights to Israel is a Mistake and Rewards Hamas Terror. Former NYC Mayor Bloomberg: Ben-Gurion Airport is probably the safest airport in the whole world to fly in and out of

bs"d

Dear  Family and Friends of Israel, amv"sh

Before, any comments about the FAA ban...
Please pray for the wounded Chayalim, Israeli soldiers, and adopt a Chayal, an Israeli soldier in combat and pray for him http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2014/07/adopt-soldier-to-pray-for-please-sign.html

FAA Ban on Flights to Israel ‘Worse than BDS’ 
The FAA's standards for determining whether a U.S. flag carrier can fly to every other spot in the world are apparently different from -- and more accommodating to travel than -- the standard the United States has applied to Israel for the last 48 hours.
By: Lori Lowenthal Marcus
Published: July 24th, 2014
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/faa-ban-on-flights-to-israel-worse-than-bds/2014/07/24/

Senator, Enraged by FAA Ban on Israel, Demands Answers.
Senator Cruz is demanding straight answers to questions about the FAA ban on Israel and until he gets them, he will put a hold on state department nominees.By: Lori Lowenthal Marcus Published: July 24th, 2014
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/senator-enraged-by-faa-ban-on-israel-demands-answers/2014/07/24/

YouTube clip published on Jul 23, 2014
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg at Ben Gurion Airport. By flying into Israel at this time Bloomberg demonstrates that the airport is open and safe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6k38ga3c3c&list=UU4XJnRPZjXhgvVMhXKNSJv

Obama's FAA has extended a ban on US flights to and from Israel's international airport, in a thinly veiled attempt to pressure Israel to accept a ceasefire.
BREAKING: Obama Launches Flight Boycott of Israel July 23, 2014 By Ben Marquis
http://conservativetribune.com/obama-flight-boycott-of-israel/

"...Texas Senator Ted Cruz is now asking if Obama is deliberately trying to impose economic hardship on Israel, citing Israel’s reliance on tourism money for their economy, which has been abruptly curtailed by the flight ban.

“Aiding Hamas while simultaneously isolating Israel does two things. One, it helps our enemy. Two, it hurts our ally,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, adding “The facts suggest that President Obama has just used a federal regulatory agency to launch an economic boycott on Israel, in order to try to force our ally to comply with his foreign-policy demands.”

Cruz points out that thousands of rockets have been fired into Israel over the course of the past few weeks, and wonders why suddenly there is such a concern for safety that all flights must be cancelled.

He makes note that the downed Malaysian airliner in the Ukraine is being cited as an excuse, but points out that US flights are still going in and out of the Ukraine, despite the obvious risk.  He also points out that US flights are flying in and out of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen, hotbeds of terrorist activity that pose just as much of a risk to commercial airlines as Hamas does.

Ted Cruz wants to know if the decision to ban flights to Israel is truly based on safety concerns, or if it is a political decision.  He is demanding to know if there has been any communication between the FAA, the State Department, and the White House.

Obviously nobody wants a civilian airliner to be targeted by terrorists, and airlines should definitely keep the safety of their planes, crews, and passengers at the forefront of their operations.  But as Cruz noted, flights continue to go in and out of other extremely dangerous airports at various locations around the world.

Cruz is right in his suggestion that this is a political decision.  The move to ban flights in and out of Israel does little more than isolate Israel, putting pressure on them to accept the demands of Europe, the UN, and others with an anti-Israeli sentiment.

The flight ban should be lifted, and allow airlines to fly in and out at their own risk.  If it truly is too dangerous, then airlines will voluntarily divert their craft away from the danger zone.

Please share this on Facebook and Twitter if you think that Obama has deliberately cancelled flights to and from Israel to pressure them to accept a ceasefire agreement.

 Before I read the links above above these were my thoughts.  These concerns are shared by many and are clearly justified.

My thoughts: The FAA ban to fly to Israel.  Is this an attempt of the Obama Administration to twist Israel's arm to accept a ceasefire or simply a desire to weaken Israel?  I can't believe it is in order to protect the passengers alone. Why can't passengers decide whether or not they wish to take the risk?  Did the FAA ban flights from all countries that are in a war, or just Israel? If there has been barely any fatalities as a result of the rocket attacks, and not one rocket has hit a plane bli ayin hara, and Israel is perhaps the safest airport in the world, what is the justification of banning flights?  If it's the insurance companies than perhaps others can come forth to insure these passengers. Perhaps Israel itself would be willing to help insure the airlines? I called Senator Schumer's office and urged the Senator 202-224-6542 to speak out to lift the FAA ban and I encourage you to lobby all elected officials, friends of Israel,  in the US to do the same.

Today's Top Stories
1. Foreign airline carriers — all of them — suspended flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport. According to Globes, only Israel's three airlines — El Al, Arkia, and Israir are "continuing routine operations." This came after a Hamas rocket struck a house in Yehud, a Tel Aviv suburb five km (three miles) from the airport complex. As a result, Ovda Airport near Eilat will replace Ben Gurion for now.

Israeli officials say the bans amount to rewarding terror, but AP notes that the aviation world is jittery after the downing of a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet over Ukraine. The Christian Science Monitor explains what the airport means to Israel:

Imagine if the United States had only one airport and that driving in and out of the country wasn't really an option. That should give you an idea of how important Ben Gurion Airport is to both Israel's economy and its sense of national well-being . . .
The last time major international carriers suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv was in 1991, ahead of and during the first Gulf War, when Saddam Hussein lobbed Scud missiles towards Israel.
El Al

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <imra@imra.org.il>
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 2:27 PM
Subject: Statements by PM Netanyahu and Former NYC Mayor Bloomberg

Statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Wednesday, 23 July 2014), while en
route from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, where he is due to meet with US Secretary
of State John Kerry, went to Ben-Gurion International Airport to welcome
former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Following are excerpts of
their remarks.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

"Michael, you are a welcomed guest on any day, but especially on this day,
to come here as a true leader, a true friend and as a man of standing and
truth. And the truth is, that you wanted to demonstrate by coming here, is
that this airport is open. You can fly in and out of Israel. We protect this
airport. There's no reason whatsoever for the mistaken FAA decision to
instruct American planes not to come here. I think you're proving it by
coming here. Where I stand, the Prime Minister of Israel, where you stand,
anybody can stand. I think this decision only rewards the Hamas terrorists
for nothing. You can fly in and out of Israel and I hope that the FAA
rescinds this decision as soon as possible."

Michael Bloomberg:

"Thank you. Let me just say that every time I come here, I'm reminded of
history, of where my family comes from, of freedom and democracy. This is
the only democratic country in this part of the world, a true democracy
where everybody has a chance to express themselves and practice the
religions that they want to practice in the ways they want to. In terms of
coming here, if – I would argue that Ben-Gurion Airport is probably the
safest airport in the whole world to fly in and out of. This is a country
that's been threatened since its existence back in 1948, when the United
Nations created this country as a homeland for the Jews. And Israelis know
what it is to keep people safe and in terms of that also."

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il




--
Sincerely,

Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch.  May their memories serve as a blessing.

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog. 

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