Israel Continues Jewish Only Flights

[Capulet]

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/737278.html

Tel Aviv-Kiryat Shmona flights are still for Jewish passengers only

By Zohar Blumenkrantz, Haaretz Correspondent

Despite promises made by the Transportation Ministry to install temporary X-ray scanning machines in the Kiryat Shmona airport a month ago, Israeli Arabs and Arab tourists are still barred from flights between Tel Aviv and the northern city.

The Transportation Ministry, acting on instruction from the Shin Bet security service, had decided that Arabs would not be allowed on domestic flights between the north and Tel Aviv, following a financial dispute that prevented the use of luggage-scanning machines in airports in the north. An investigation by Haaretz revealed that there was a policy of allowing only Jewish passengers onto these flights since March.

The Transportation Ministry said June 15 it would install temporary X-ray scanning machines in the Kiryat Shmona airport, in an effort to calm public protests over its policy of barring Arabs.




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Due to a bureaucratic problem in the Kiryat Shmona terminal, Udi Tamir, owner of Tamir Airways, announced on Tuesday that the company would discontinue its flights between Kiryat Shmona and Tel Aviv in a week.

"Unfortunately, the continued existence of the terminal from which we operate is uncertain, due to security and bureaucratic difficulties that have been piled on us from external bodies," Tamir wrote to Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz.

"Even though we have purchased the appropriate security equipment, and have acquired professional manpower, we don't have the capability to conduct the proper security checks due to a lack of space in which to hold the equipment and conduct them. We are therefore unable, under the orders of the Transportation Ministry and against our will, to allow Arabs to fly."

Senior Transportation Ministry official for international relations Avner Ovadia said Tuesday that "Transportation Ministry Director General Gideon Siterman intends to hold a discussion on the matter with the participation of all involved parties in an effort to bridge the gaps and to allow the continuation of regular flights."

'Jewish, Arab or foreign'
A source in the Shin Bet security services told Haaretz that "security regulations require examination of luggage by X-ray in keeping with the security classification of each passenger and regardless of whether they are Jewish, Arab or foreign."

In a June letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, attorney Abir Bakhar of the Adaleh legal aid center called the directive "racist, arbitrary, discriminatory and patently illegal."

Democracy or Theocracy?

 

[Aegis]

I can't really fault them. There's too much risk involved, imo.

 

[ChrTh]

Israel isn't a secular democracy, it is a Jewish Democracy.

How are they enforcing this? Can an American Jew travel on the planes, or only an Israeli Jew? If it's the latter, it's still secular, just nationalistic.

 

[The Last Conformist]

How are they enforcing this? Can an American Jew travel on the planes, or only an Israeli Jew? If it's the latter, it's still secular, just nationalistic.

Since they're disallowing Israeli Arabs (who have Israeli citizenship), it's hardly "secular".

 

[emzie]

How are they enforcing this? Can an American Jew travel on the planes, or only an Israeli Jew? If it's the latter, it's still secular, just nationalistic.

And what say you of the one million or so Arab Israelis?

edit: screw you last conformist imho.

 

[ChrTh]

Since they're disallowing Israeli Arabs (who have Israeli citizenship), it's hardly "secular".

I'm sorry this is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Take a bus.

EDIT: Besides, we're only talking about one route. It's not like Israeli Arabs are forbidden from flying on any planes.

 

[Leha]

It's 2 hours drive in the bus. The minute X-ray is installed, there will be no problem. I see nothing outrageous here.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I guess when evaluating the desirability of potential passengers they take into account their likelihood of exploding.

 

[Aegis]

EDIT: Besides, we're only talking about one route. It's not like Israeli Arabs are forbidden from flying on any planes.

Exactly. They cannot fly out of an airport that is unable to scan baggage properly. It's too big of a risk.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I'm sorry this is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

Why, then, are you posting at all?

 

[ChrTh]

Why, then, are you posting at all?

I'm making sure that people understand that it can be considered a non-issue. +1 for us both.

 

[emzie]

Exactly. They cannot fly out of an airport that is unable to scan baggage properly. It's too big of a risk.

Then no flights should be leaving. Those who are flying shouldn't be banned on race -- not that you can tell a Palestinian from many Jews anyway -- or religion alone.

That said, it's not the government denying these passangers (in fact, they seem to be making all efforts to resolve the problem so kuddos!) but a corperation.

 

[ChrTh]

Then no flights should be leaving. Those who are flying shouldn't be banned on race -- not that you can tell a Palestinian from many Jews anyway -- or religion alone.

To be honest, I'm surprised that's not the case. Maybe the government feels the political fallout from such a stance would be too great?

EDIT: augurey, I think it is the government denying the passengers

 

[emzie]

To be honest, I'm surprised that's not the case. Maybe the government feels the political fallout from such a stance would be too great?

EDIT: augurey, I think it is the government denying the passengers

The government installed the x-ray machines though

I'm hard pressed to believe the government would disenfranchise many of its own citizens. Arab Israelis are the same as Jewish Israelis under law.

edit: Okay I was obviously over optimistic.

The Transportation Ministry, acting on instruction from the Shin Bet security service, had decided that Arabs would not be allowed on domestic flights between the north and Tel Aviv

Maybe I should read better!

Well in that case, if they deny Israeli Arabs than it's complete bull****.

 

[ChrTh]

No, they haven't installed them yet. They're going to, but it hasn't happened.

 

[emzie]

No, they haven't installed them yet. They're going to, but it hasn't happened.

Then no flights should be going, not flights excluding Arabs

 

[The Last Conformist]

I'm making sure that people understand that it can be considered a non-issue. +1 for us both.

Then I'll only say that your attitude sickens me. Have a nice day.

 

[Aegis]

The Israelis aren't much for being P.C.

 

[ChrTh]

Then I'll only say that your attitude sickens me. Have a nice day.

Anyway, back to what augurey was saying ... in thinking about it, I think you're right: if it is being done for security reasons, a blanket ban should occur. Not for "democratic" reasons, of course, but security reasons. What makes an Israeli of Jewish descent more reliable than an Israeli of Arab descent? More importantly, how do you prove it? Do you make them show you a circumcision (a la the story of Joseph)?

 

[blackheart]

I assume the Israeli government doesn't care about security too much if they let ANYONE fly out from an airport with no X-rays.

I'm making sure that people understand that it can be considered a non-issue. +1 for us both.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious.