FAA cancels flight ban to Israel, Europe withdraws warning

Jerusalem Post ^ | 7/24/2014 | Niv Elis

[Tzfat]

Hours after extending a 24-hour ban that went into effect Tuesday, the FAA cancels flight restrictions in response to increased Israeli security measures.

Just twelve hours after it renewed a 24-hour ban on US flights to and from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, the Federal Aviation Authority on Thursday withdrew the ban, setting the stage for US and international carriers to resume flights. Europe's Aviation Safety Agency, which had issued a "strong recommendation" against flights to Tel Aviv, retracted its warning later in the day.

Since the FAA ban on Tuesday, which followed the first successful Hamas rocket landing within the vicinity of the airport, hundreds of flights were canceled, and thousands of travelers stranded.

Since the FAA lifted its ban, Alitalia, Air Berlin, USAirways, United, Air Mediterranee and Air Europa announced they would be returning to full service as soon as possible, while Delta, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Easy Jet, Lufthansa and its affiliates had still not, according to the Israel Airport Athority.

Israel lobbied heavily for the US to lift the restriction, which politicians called a victory for Hamas and terrorism. The FAA said it took into account "significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation," before making its decision, but stressed that its primary goad was to protect passenger on US airlines.

[Tzfat]

What do you want to bet the "significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation" was the veiled threat that Israel would show that the rocket that landed 5 km from Ben Gurion on Tuesday was tracked by Iron Dome the entire time and determined not to be a threat - in other words, your ban was political, and we have the proof.

[MrB]

It was a leftist de facto boycott on Israel, and they got called on it.

See, they want to be anti-God, and anti-Christ,

but they don’t want everyone to know it, yet.

[lonestar67]

Thank you President Cruz!

[Tzfat]

It was a leftist de facto boycott on Israel, and they got called on it.

Absolutely.

Yesterday, when the FAA extended their NOTAM, they made an unusual comment that they were reviewing "significant information" provided by Israel. Israel referenced certain intel in their protest to the FAA.

I suspect that the information was about to become public information, released by Israel, showing the FAA decision as political. Israel has said all the time that the rocket that hit 5 km from Ben Gurion was not a threat to Ben Gurion, and Iron Dome had tracked it the whole time. That makes a continued FAA ban pure politics. Shock - a Chicago thug using the FAA for his own political machinations?

[Tzfat]

Thank you President Cruz!

One thing is for sure, G-d does not forget Israel, and He loves those who love Israel. Ted Cruz is one of those.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yeh the ban got lifted after Ted Cruz threatened to hold up all state dept nominations. Go Ted!! Ted Cruz and Rick Perry both rock.

[Oliviaforever]

The FAA and Obama may have acted too fast in lifting the ban and if an passenger plane it his with a Hamas missile, It will be Obama’s fault.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

if an passenger plane it his with a Hamas missile...

if a passenger plane is hit with a Hamas missile by a kid throwing a rock...