Tel Aviv Flight Ban Removes Link for New York Jews

[King_David]

The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to bar U.S. carriers from flying to Tel Aviv has temporarily severed part of a crucial link from New York City and Israel.
Of the eight direct flights from U.S. airports to Tel Aviv scheduled on Tuesday, six were scheduled from John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website.
The FAA issued its 24-hour ban on U.S. based carriers flying to Tel Aviv after a rocket attack near Ben Gurion International Airport. The FAA’s decision also came in the wake of the apparent downing by a surface-to-air missile of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in war-torn eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

The New York City area is home to a Jewish population of 1.1 million, the nation’s largest, according to a report released last year by the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. Newark and Kennedy airports have more direct flights to Tel Aviv than any other U.S. city.

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/BL-METROB-21209

[Suburban Warrior]

1. El Al is still flying from JFK.

I believe former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is on this flight.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ELY2

[King_David]

2. Hes visiting?

[Suburban Warrior]

3. Michael Bloomberg flying to Israel to protest FAA ban

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) is flying to Israel tonight on the Israeli airline El Al to protest a Federal Aviation Administration ban on U.S. carriers flying to or from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

Bloomberg made the announcement on his Web site. He urged the FAA to change its decision.

"This evening I will be flying on El Al to Tel Aviv to show solidarity with the Israeli people and to demonstrate that it is safe to fly in and out of Israel," Bloomberg said in a statement. "Ben Gurion is the best protected airport in the world and El Al flights have been regularly flying in and out of it safely. The flight restrictions are a mistake that hands Hamas an undeserved victory and should be lifted immediately. I strongly urge the FAA to reverse course and permit US airlines to fly to Israel."

The FAA said the ban -- for at least 24 hours -- was put in place after a rocket landed about a mile away from the airport.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/07/22/michael-bloomberg-flying-to-israel-to-protest-faa-ban/

[appal_jack]

4. Further interesting commentary about what this means for any peace process here:

Further interesting commentary about what this means for any peace process here:

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4467/hamas-israel-airport

-app