Israeli national airline EL AL has filed a complaint with French authorities, after an incident that reportedly happened in French airspace last night. However, it follows a larger issue that EL AL is having in France, as the airline is accusing the country of no longer issuing work visas for security staff.
In this post:
Air traffic controller broadcasts “Free Palestine” to EL AL pilots
On the night of Monday, August 11, 2025, a French air traffic controller reportedly had a special message for the pilots of an EL AL flight that had just started its journey from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV).
Around 12 minutes after takeoff, the air traffic controller allegedly added “Free Palestine” to his transmission. The pilots reported this to the company, and this has now escalated to the Israeli government, which is taking this up with its French counterparts. EL AL has released the following statement about what happened:
“El Al views the incident that took place last night, in which a French air traffic controller addressed one of its pilots in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner, with the utmost seriousness. We are addressing the matter with Israeli authorities, who are in contact with their French counterparts. El Al will continue flying around the world with the Israeli flag on its aircraft tails with pride, while upholding professionalism and ensuring the safety and security of its passengers and crews.”
Regardless of how one feels about the conflict between Israel and Palestine (from the horrific October 7 terrorist attacks, to the current unimaginable humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza), air traffic control frequencies aren’t the appropriate place to express opinions. It’s important that only essential communication is maintained there.
Just last week, there were headlines when Iberia served a kosher meal to a passenger with “Free Palestine” scribbled on it. However, it seemed to be someone from the catering facility, rather than a crew member.
France has stopped issuing visas for EL AL security staff
This latest EL AL incident in Paris follows recent reports that the French government has stopped renewing work visas for EL AL security staff members. EL AL is known for its strict airport security, and all passengers flying on EL AL are interviewed by security staff prior to their flight.
However, for the past six or so months, France has reportedly stopped issuing and renewing work visas for these employees. This prevents EL AL’s security staff from working legally in the country.
Historically, EL AL security staff have been classified as ITAN workers (Israeli citizens supporting diplomatic missions), and have been granted French visas via the Israeli embassy.
Sources suggest that this has happened because of difficulties that French diplomatic staff have faced with security screening. According to a diplomatic source providing a quote to The Times of Israel, “for many months, members of France’s diplomatic corps in Israel and in Jerusalem have been subjected to systematic screening by El Al security personnel at Charles de Gaulle Airport prior to the airline’s flights.”
It’s not entirely clear to me which part of that is problematic, since EL AL security staff interviewing passengers is a standard process. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson has stated that this “is being handled by the embassy in coordination with the French Foreign Ministry.”
Bottom line
Israel is filing a complaint with France, after EL AL pilots were reportedly greeted by a French air traffic controller with a “Free Palestine” message. This follows increasing diplomatic tensions between the two countries involving EL AL, as France has reportedly stopped issuing work visas to EL AL security staff.
Yes,absolutely Free Palestine.
Mr. Shlappig - The platform for your website presumably allows you to mute comments for specific posts or subject comments for specific posts. You may want to use those features for articles that touch on this issue.
Why post this article? It barely relates to travel and will cause anger and argument. Really that desperate for clicks?
The problem with the systematic screening by El Al security personnel at Charles de Gaulle Airport prior to the airline’s flights its that sometimes it violates the diplomatic inmunity (and silence right) that have the missión and the diplomatic luggage that can not be cheked whet its tagged by the mission.
Vicente, please be advised that over the past two decades (I retired in June) El Al security personnel at either LHR or TLV, did not violate any British Diplomatic Rights/Relations.
The same cannot be said of two locations in the U.S. Some years ago now security personnel had to be ‘slapped down’ for attempting to do so.
In tough economic times like this, we could all use some free Palestine.
I think that the two biggest prevailing issues in most of the worlds west (well pretty much all, bar the USA) with Israel vs Gaza boils down to the following:
1) The Oct 7 killings were disgusting and abhorrent. However, the Israeli military response has been completely disproportionate now. What is the end goal? Is it a desperate leader clinging onto power whatever the cost?
2) The separation of religion and politics. It seems virtually...
I think that the two biggest prevailing issues in most of the worlds west (well pretty much all, bar the USA) with Israel vs Gaza boils down to the following:
1) The Oct 7 killings were disgusting and abhorrent. However, the Israeli military response has been completely disproportionate now. What is the end goal? Is it a desperate leader clinging onto power whatever the cost?
2) The separation of religion and politics. It seems virtually impossible to criticise the policies of the Israeli government without also being labelled as an antisemite.
“A desperate leader clinging onto power no matter the costs”
Sounds a lot like Hamas, who could’ve ended this on October 8 by surrendering.
I do not think ANY western country sees Hamas as a genuine elected democratic leader as they do (or did?) Netanyahu. They are viewed as a terrorist organisation. The Israeli government as a democratic government.
This does not negate either of my points above.
Why do I hardly ever read any condemnation of the Hamas terrorists who continue to hold Israeli citizens hostage? Or, for that matter, how the Hamas terrorists hold the citizens of Gaza hostage, use then as human shields, steal their food aid and prevent them from obtaining medical care too?
Hypocrite Lame Duck and Co.
Admittedly I do not follow the news in every country on this subject. I do follow the news in the UK and Australia however.
I see plenty of criticism of Hamas and many reminders of the fact they kicked off the whole thing.
My very first post on the subject mentions the abhorrent October 7 attacks.
That does not negate the now disproportionate response of the Israeli military nor being referred to as an antisemite...
Admittedly I do not follow the news in every country on this subject. I do follow the news in the UK and Australia however.
I see plenty of criticism of Hamas and many reminders of the fact they kicked off the whole thing.
My very first post on the subject mentions the abhorrent October 7 attacks.
That does not negate the now disproportionate response of the Israeli military nor being referred to as an antisemite for criticism of the Israeli government.
Why must everyone fall in the 'I support Israel or I support Hamas' camp AeroB13a? There is a middle ground, able to see perspective from both sides. Perhaps you have some vested interest?
El Al and any other Israeli business should be banned from operating in the 'civilised' West - talk is cheap. To honour the 300,000 innocent people massacred in Palestine, the least that can happen is a total boycott of the Apartheid state is needed, and getting Israel to sign up to the non-proliferation nuclear treaty. El Al planes already in the West should be banned and seized.
the people in the comments for this story are trash. I agree with your article.
Israel is committing genocide and has been systematically killing Palestinians since 1948.
I am glad the French ATC has the nutz to say Free Palestine.
Stop twisting things and protecting Islamists.
you've proven how uneducated you are with this comment.
The world‘s most unsuccessful genocide, apparently, given that the Palestinian population has grown exponentially since then.
1) I would be fuming if I had to give up my house because the original occupants of the land were kicked out more than 1000 years ago (like what happened to the Palestinians when Israel was created)
2) At the same time, I can't stand the Muslims, as they are always angry with the world - from which religion are most of the suicide bombers?
Just bomb the whole bloody Middle East. Religious...
1) I would be fuming if I had to give up my house because the original occupants of the land were kicked out more than 1000 years ago (like what happened to the Palestinians when Israel was created)
2) At the same time, I can't stand the Muslims, as they are always angry with the world - from which religion are most of the suicide bombers?
Just bomb the whole bloody Middle East. Religious right-wings (Jews and Muslims) are not good for the world. I could not care less for any side.
Just kill everyone I don't like. Stay classy, Pinky.
I knew the comments section on this one would be fun
"Free Palestine" from the genocidal, terrorist, criminal and rogue state of Israel. Israel is no doubt the greatest terrorist country on earth. They have been playing victim for years and now the world is opening their eyes. The world has come to know what level of a criminal state Israel is. Every crime they accuse Hamas of committing has been committed by the IDF itself. Israel and its lobby controls US and EU leaders. Israel...
"Free Palestine" from the genocidal, terrorist, criminal and rogue state of Israel. Israel is no doubt the greatest terrorist country on earth. They have been playing victim for years and now the world is opening their eyes. The world has come to know what level of a criminal state Israel is. Every crime they accuse Hamas of committing has been committed by the IDF itself. Israel and its lobby controls US and EU leaders. Israel is also linked to Epstein files. Israel was never innocent and it will never be innocent.
Numpties who post false news like you sunshine, are the real terrorists. Supporting terrorism will get you into a situation which you will definitely regret on day, mark these words!
Very much not appropriate, politics and current affairs should be nowhere near ATC coms for the same reason why MAGA rhetoric and left wing politics has no business being there either.
The intention is very clear that the ATC was giving the EL AL pilots hostility for his personal beliefs, the EL AL pilots might not trust his messages or might think he has bad intent and cause a possible safety mishap. And what...
Very much not appropriate, politics and current affairs should be nowhere near ATC coms for the same reason why MAGA rhetoric and left wing politics has no business being there either.
The intention is very clear that the ATC was giving the EL AL pilots hostility for his personal beliefs, the EL AL pilots might not trust his messages or might think he has bad intent and cause a possible safety mishap. And what if one of the EL-AL pilots was pro-war in this scenario and started arguing with the ATC? This has no good outcomes and is just an instigation asking for trouble. Saying "Free Palestine" to an airline pilot does absolutely nothing but provoke them.
I need another drink.
Serious question though. What does "Free Palestine even mean"? Who is going to run this country? Who is going to pay to rebuild Gaza or build of a functioning state of Palestine? Hasn't this already been tried in the past to give Gaza autonomy and its failed miserably? Like seriously people, wake up.
Israel is doing some very questionable (at best) things, but magically creating a new state for people...
I need another drink.
Serious question though. What does "Free Palestine even mean"? Who is going to run this country? Who is going to pay to rebuild Gaza or build of a functioning state of Palestine? Hasn't this already been tried in the past to give Gaza autonomy and its failed miserably? Like seriously people, wake up.
Israel is doing some very questionable (at best) things, but magically creating a new state for people who have been brainwashed by terrorists and are completely impoverished doesnt seem like recipe for success... Do we think its magically going to be the next Singapore or something?
Excellent comment. There’s no denying that Israel has over-reacted, that their continued settlement of the West Bank is in violation of legally binding agreements that they’ve previously made, and that Netanyahu’s latest proclamation that Israel will permanently occupy Gaza is borderline megalomaniacal. That said, Gaza was a failed state, and the Hamas leadership had stolen billions and billions and billions of aid dollars to fund their military arm at the expense of the ordinary people....
Excellent comment. There’s no denying that Israel has over-reacted, that their continued settlement of the West Bank is in violation of legally binding agreements that they’ve previously made, and that Netanyahu’s latest proclamation that Israel will permanently occupy Gaza is borderline megalomaniacal. That said, Gaza was a failed state, and the Hamas leadership had stolen billions and billions and billions of aid dollars to fund their military arm at the expense of the ordinary people. Unemployment and poverty were widespread, while Hamas leaders lived luxurious billionaire lifestyles in Qatar on stolen money, and their apparatchiks in Gaza enjoyed beautiful apartments, fancy German cars, and holidays in Egypt, Russia, and Turkey. Meanwhile there was no investment in human development, with the result that Gazans have no skills, no industry, and no hope for the future. Still, progressives blame Israel for everything despite the Palestinians having had self-rule in Gaza for twenty years. How’s that worked out? It hasn’t worked at all.
You state that Israel has over-reacted! The hostages (a few still alive) remain in horrid conditions and you refer to over-reacted? Israel was simply attacked and teens at a music festival were taken hostage for over 600 days. The Bibas kids were murdered and you say over-reacted?
Did you pause to consider that Israel *itself* was created in 1948 by completely decimated, violated, and impoverished group of people with the backing of a few distant nations (UK, US, etc.) who decided to support their effort?
So tell me, if it could happen there once by being given the fullest support of Western powers, why couldn't it happen there again? :)
Your bias and Zionist privilege is showing, Ben.
The current situation in Gaza is a genocide committed by Israel, not an “unimaginable humanitarian crisis”
Free Palestine. Netanyahu to The Hague. And sanction Israel. The world is waking up.
It is noted that you BZ, along with the other terrorist supporters who post herein, conveniently forget 9/11 and the more recent 7/10.
Hamas are the true terrorists in Gaza and those who have caused an “Unimaginable humanitarian crisis”. One does not read a post from the likes of you demanding that Hamas release the hostages, or, offer condolences to those Israeli babies, women and children who the Hamas terrorists butchered in cold blood.
Hypocrite!
It is noted that you BZ, along with the other terrorist supporters who post herein, conveniently forget 9/11 and the more recent 7/10.
Hamas are the true terrorists in Gaza and those who have caused an “Unimaginable humanitarian crisis”. One does not read a post from the likes of you demanding that Hamas release the hostages, or, offer condolences to those Israeli babies, women and children who the Hamas terrorists butchered in cold blood.
Hypocrite!
It is noted that you BZ, along with the other terrorist supporters who post herein, conveniently forget 9/11 and the more recent 7/10.
Hamas are the true terrorists in Gaza and those who have caused an “Unimaginable humanitarian crisis”. One does not read a post from the likes of you demanding that Hamas release the hostages, or, offer condolences to those Israeli babies, women and children who the Hamas terrorists butchered in cold blood.
Hypocrite!
Typical Zionist, AeroB13a. Hoping by saying something over and over it becomes the truth.
The reality is the world sees through people like you and your Hasbarist genocidal propaganda.
Cry harder. Go cry a river to the sea
Why do I hardly ever read any condemnation of the Hamas terrorists who continue to hold Israeli citizens hostage? Or, for that matter, how the Hamas terrorists hold the citizens of Gaza hostage, use then as human shields, steal their food aid and prevent them from obtaining medical care too?
Hypocrite BZ the Hamas terrorist propaganda believer.
Keep drinking that Zio Koolaid, AeroBenGvir.
History will judge you for being a brainwashed, genocidal child murderer.
Free Palestine.
This is totally unprofessional behaviour and should absolutely not be tolerated, whatever one's view of the conflict.
Free Palestine AND America from Israel
Then die at the hands of the Islamic revolution, numpty!
May I request we tamp down on emotionally charged events. Right now the most important thing is we all learn to get along. Giving space hatemongers on any side is not worth our time.
Ben on the wrong side of history again. Good for this controller. Free Palestine.
Free the Uighurs! When will air traffic controllers start saying that to every Chinese pilot with whom they have radio contact? The Uighurs are being used as slave labor, subjected to social sanctions and intensive surveillance, having their rights to religious freedom and freedom of association violated on a daily basis, and having their ethnic identity deliberately erased by the CCP government in Beijing. If ever there was a genocide, it’s being committed against the...
Free the Uighurs! When will air traffic controllers start saying that to every Chinese pilot with whom they have radio contact? The Uighurs are being used as slave labor, subjected to social sanctions and intensive surveillance, having their rights to religious freedom and freedom of association violated on a daily basis, and having their ethnic identity deliberately erased by the CCP government in Beijing. If ever there was a genocide, it’s being committed against the Uighurs. Where are the shrill, vitriolic progressives of social media when they’re needed? Oh, that’s right, the Uighurs aren’t the “current thing”. What a tragedy for them.
What ever you think about the politics etc...
This is just unprofessional and shouldn't be happening in aviation
Well, this comment section is fun.
I'm grabbing some pop-corn, would you like some?
I am not Israeli, nor even Jewish, but but the "innocent" Palestenians have been enabling hamas for years. Israel is totally justified in trying to eliminate their threat to them.
I am not Israeli Jewish or Palestinian
But Israel has been slaughtering Palestine and enabling Netanyahu for years. And Palestinians are totally justified in resisting this brutal oppression
These stories are great - so why didn't the ATC use that like 5 years ago? It's not like anything has changed regarding the borders. Not only that, but funny coming from France considering the Palestinians were allies of the Nazis in WWII - you know the group that decimated France. It's still amusing to me how many people became overnight experts on the middle east having never posted anything about palestinians prior to a...
These stories are great - so why didn't the ATC use that like 5 years ago? It's not like anything has changed regarding the borders. Not only that, but funny coming from France considering the Palestinians were allies of the Nazis in WWII - you know the group that decimated France. It's still amusing to me how many people became overnight experts on the middle east having never posted anything about palestinians prior to a year or two ago. I don't even think they know what 'free palestine' means. I also like how silent they are on Oct 7th and want to reward that kind of violence. And before someone jumps in with the tired 'israel has been killing palestinians for years' - none of you know the accumulated death tolls on each side over the decades or who fired the 'first shot' not to mention my other point - the palestinians were Nazis! Why do they get to be complicit in genocide and not suffer the consequences? If we held them to the same standards as the Israelis then the deserved to be wiped off the face of the earth in the 40s.
Based.
The ATC has been suspended:
https://www.lemonde.fr/guerre-au-proche-orient/article/2025/08/12/un-controleur-de-l-aeroport-paris-cdg-suspendu-pour-avoir-lance-free-palestine-a-l-equipage-de-la-compagnie-israelienne-el-al_6628577_6325529.html
Good. Who's to say that in the future he wouldn't steer an Israeli airliner toward disaster?
Israel (and El Al by extension) have done a fantastic job of ruining what goodwill they had following October 7. The current decimation of Gaza isn't remotely proportional to the atrocities Hamas perpetrated.
But Israel (and again, El Al by extension) are good at whining at the slightest microagression as they bomb, shoot and starve thousands of civilians.
As an American Jew, I've had about enough
Do you honestly not understand that if Israel had relented, there would've been a dozen more October 7s?
I'm so sick of "American Jews" trotting out their Stars of David for credibility, and to curry favor among their Jew-hating friends. Pick me! Pick me!
You live in America—you don't live in Israel. You don't know the reality of the threat we are constantly under, and how it persists no matter how cruel or benevolent...
Do you honestly not understand that if Israel had relented, there would've been a dozen more October 7s?
I'm so sick of "American Jews" trotting out their Stars of David for credibility, and to curry favor among their Jew-hating friends. Pick me! Pick me!
You live in America—you don't live in Israel. You don't know the reality of the threat we are constantly under, and how it persists no matter how cruel or benevolent our leaders are to our neighbors. You don't know what it's like to deal with rockets falling on your house or bombs exploding so close to where your children sleep it wakes them.
Respectfully, when your military enemy (and a large percentage of the civilians they rule over) want your annihilation, proportionality is irrelevant.
At the end of the day, until the Palestinians come to the table with a willingness to accept that "From the River to the Sea" will never happen, their only objective will be the destruction of Israel.
If only party can survive, it will not be "Palestine." Die mad about it.
Few things. One, Idan, while I am an American Jew, both my parents were born in Israel and most of my extended family are there. I spent my summers in Israel all through childhood and into adulthood. Also, I don't have any "Jew-hating friends" that I know of. And I have experienced being in my cousins' homes when Hezbollah was launching rockets more than once, so I know a great deal about that as well.
...Few things. One, Idan, while I am an American Jew, both my parents were born in Israel and most of my extended family are there. I spent my summers in Israel all through childhood and into adulthood. Also, I don't have any "Jew-hating friends" that I know of. And I have experienced being in my cousins' homes when Hezbollah was launching rockets more than once, so I know a great deal about that as well.
I am a Zionist, and I am committed to advocating for the state of Israel. I'm the last person I know to come around to the notion that what Bibi is doing is counterproductive, cruel and that he is unfit to continue to lead. My Likud family members living in Israel arrived at this opinion long before I did.
You can engage in all the hyperbole you want, throw around accusations, label me a self-loathing Jew or whatever you want. But the fact is, if the State of Israel is starting to lose sympathy from people like me (and more so, my right wing Israeli family) - their government is in trouble. Assuming they still hold democratic values dear
Things do not happen proportionately all the time, unless you do eye for an eye at ever step. How naive.
Ben, YOU are funding israel's genocide! Stop flying them
Agree 100 percent
Free Palestine.
Sorry if that hurts the fee-fees of the genocidal Nazis.
OK, Palestine is free. What do you think will happen in the Middle East, now that Palestine is a real country and exists alongside Israel? Or do you want Israel gone?
We are not that lucky......
OK, Israel is free. What do you think will happen in the Middle East, now that Israel is a real country and exists alongside Palestine? Or do you want Palestine gone?
(...It's clear what's going on here, you value some lives above others because you're a supremacist. And that's why you will be forever treated as such.)
"(...It's clear what's going on here, you value some lives above others because you're a supremacist."
I suppose you value to life of your family members or loved ones in the same value as perhaps Donald Trump or Benjamin Netanyahu?
Get off your moral high horse.
What kind of "supremacist" am I? Surely you recognize that a vast majority of Israelis are not white. Or maybe you don't.
No. Terrorists vs normal citizens. Why did Palestinians make non-existence of Israel as precondition for any peace?
The Palestinians will still be viewed with suspicion, if not outright loathing, by all the other Arab Muslim states in the middle east. Their government will continue to be either a military dictatorship (Hamas) or an impotent gerontocracy (the Palestinian Authority). They'll continue to need vast amounts of aid money because the funds are misused or outright stolen. Unemployment will continue to be astronomically high because they have zero marketable skills and zero industry. "Free...
The Palestinians will still be viewed with suspicion, if not outright loathing, by all the other Arab Muslim states in the middle east. Their government will continue to be either a military dictatorship (Hamas) or an impotent gerontocracy (the Palestinian Authority). They'll continue to need vast amounts of aid money because the funds are misused or outright stolen. Unemployment will continue to be astronomically high because they have zero marketable skills and zero industry. "Free Palestine" is just another brainless, thought-terminating cliche from the progressive rent-a-crowd that brought us "Black Lives Matter!" and "Trans Women Are Women!", which have both folded in on themselves after something newer and more "oppressive" came along.
...and I rest my case, anti-palestine sentiment gurgles up from the same swamps that produce pro-cop white nationalism and transphobia.
bigots gonna bigot, no redemption well be possible, only good bigot is a dead one!
Black lives matter was a wildly corrupt cabal of blatant grifters, and trans activists have done horrible damage to the reputation of transsexual people, but in any case, thank you for proving my point. Best you get back to Bluesky so you can keep an eye out anything that might be the next popular progressive cause to grab your attention, so you can go off in the same half-cocked, abjectly misinformed fashion that you have...
Black lives matter was a wildly corrupt cabal of blatant grifters, and trans activists have done horrible damage to the reputation of transsexual people, but in any case, thank you for proving my point. Best you get back to Bluesky so you can keep an eye out anything that might be the next popular progressive cause to grab your attention, so you can go off in the same half-cocked, abjectly misinformed fashion that you have here. You're the very definition of "I support the current thing!" - all slogans and no attempt at formulating a nuanced POV whatsoever.
Claiming Arab countries hate Palestinians is a Hasbara/AIPAC talking point grounded in misinterpretation of facts that is used as a justification for the removal of Palestinians.
Another false talking point is that Hamas and The Palestinian Authority are so thoroughly corrupt/inept as to be unworthy of funding. This dishonest logic has contributed to the enabling of Israel’s genocide carried out by Israel’s intentionally inept and cruel distribution of ‘aid’.
The economies in both...
Claiming Arab countries hate Palestinians is a Hasbara/AIPAC talking point grounded in misinterpretation of facts that is used as a justification for the removal of Palestinians.
Another false talking point is that Hamas and The Palestinian Authority are so thoroughly corrupt/inept as to be unworthy of funding. This dishonest logic has contributed to the enabling of Israel’s genocide carried out by Israel’s intentionally inept and cruel distribution of ‘aid’.
The economies in both the West Bank and Gaza have languished because Israel’s illegal checkpoints stymie commerce. Economic stagnation is a strong contributor to ethno-nationalism - a fact that is not lost on Israel.
My comment posted before I could edit. I did not mean to imply that Hamas was a worthy vehicle for receiving funding for aid distribution in Gaza. Hamas is a terrorist organization and is well-known for its corruption. The UN, on the other hand, is a far worthier vehicle for distributing aid in Gaza than the current Israeli/U.S. effort, widely regarded as intentionally ineffective.
Israelis should go back to wherever they came from, do you know why Israel bans genetic tests, because they know they’re not from there
Most Israelis are “from” Arab and Muslim countries, where they would be murdered for practicing Judaism if they “went back” there.
Also, this is the language of actual genocide and ethnic cleansing, Omar.
Every accusation is an admission. Every time.
@Idan
You are an idiot if you don't know that 90% of Israelis are Europeans. All their criminal prime ministers from Ben Gurion to the war Criminal Netanyahu are Europeans.
Another Hasbara/AIPAC/ADL lie - honestly, I'm so tired of the zio-fascists (and they are definitely fascists).
Ya'll need to understand that the world finally woke up, we are in the age of social media, and free seech doesn't equal antisemitism, nobody is buying Israel's lies and the zionist victim card won't make people change their mind. Everyhting is political in our age, economy is quite politicized, so are industries, art is political too, everybody can voice their opinions, it doesn't mean they are against Israeli citizens or jews.
Outside of...
Ya'll need to understand that the world finally woke up, we are in the age of social media, and free seech doesn't equal antisemitism, nobody is buying Israel's lies and the zionist victim card won't make people change their mind. Everyhting is political in our age, economy is quite politicized, so are industries, art is political too, everybody can voice their opinions, it doesn't mean they are against Israeli citizens or jews.
Outside of the US, the state of Israel doesn't have the reach and influence some might think they have, the truth is The State of Israel is being abandoned by the world.
Zionists wake up!, if you wanna go to war at least comply with warfare international policies and ihl. Nobody is buying your hasbara and victim card anymore.
AIPAC out of US policy now. Americans wake up!, Christians wake up!
Sir, This is a Wendy's.
>Perhaps keep political opinions out of the workplace.
The statement should read since the occupation in 1948 until now, Israel has become an a pariah state and the whole world is tired of their actions
Dumb statement, the land always have belonged to Israel and will belong to Israel.
It was Palestine before 1948 get your facts straight
Au contraire, if Palestinian Arabs (who never had their own nation-state prior to 1948) had accepted the UN partition plan, none of the carnage that's occurred since would've happened. Nor if they had accepted defeat after all the times Israel kicked their ass in war.
But Omar, prior to 1948 Palestine was occupied by the UK, and prior to that by the Ottoman Empire, and prior to that...
At least Israel are rationally not claiming antisemitism (yet).
But completely unprofessional by ATC, and you know which ATC would be able to maintain complete professionalism.
The ones without humans behind the control.
Do some surface level reading about the absurd level of accommodations that are provided to El Al flights (up to forbidding Muslim ground handling employees from working on El Al aircraft and Mossad agents conducting invasive searches on passengers on foreign soil) and your sympathy will go down, a lot. When criticism of a countries culture, attitudes, and policies is stifled for as long as criticism of Israel was, it absolutely boils over in ugly...
Do some surface level reading about the absurd level of accommodations that are provided to El Al flights (up to forbidding Muslim ground handling employees from working on El Al aircraft and Mossad agents conducting invasive searches on passengers on foreign soil) and your sympathy will go down, a lot. When criticism of a countries culture, attitudes, and policies is stifled for as long as criticism of Israel was, it absolutely boils over in ugly ways. Hope the controller gets away with the a slap on the wrist as I’m sure a “Slava Ukraine” to an Aeroflot flight would’ve gotten.
Let me bring you up to 'speed' with reality, @SlowBird. When state and terrorist groups are ACTIVELY trying to destroy your planes and pax, you do EVERYTHING possible to protect your plane and pax.
Or perhaps you were fancifully imagining planes and pax everywhere are sacrosanct and considered untouchable by terrorists and terrorist states? American 11 and 77, and United 175 would disagree with you.
John's logic would justify every airline conducting intelligence operations on foreign soil - should we let Air India agents interrogate passengers at Heathrow because of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, or Malaysian Airlines conducting parallel security operations after MH17 and MH370? Security concerns don't override host country sovereignty, and France has every right to question why their own diplomats are being intensively screened by foreign airline security in French airports.
John's logic would justify every airline conducting intelligence operations on foreign soil - should we let Air India agents interrogate passengers at Heathrow because of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, or Malaysian Airlines conducting parallel security operations after MH17 and MH370? Security concerns don't override host country sovereignty, and France has every right to question why their own diplomats are being intensively screened by foreign airline security in French airports.
@John
You sleeping idiot wake up now. American 11 and 77, and United 175 was the dirty work of CIA and Mossad. They planned the 9/11 incident so that they may wage a war in the Middle East. Even kids born after the 9/11 know this but an old dumb idiot like you still thinks someone else did it. You have spent your whole life convincing people that 9/11 incident was done by Arabs....
@John
You sleeping idiot wake up now. American 11 and 77, and United 175 was the dirty work of CIA and Mossad. They planned the 9/11 incident so that they may wage a war in the Middle East. Even kids born after the 9/11 know this but an old dumb idiot like you still thinks someone else did it. You have spent your whole life convincing people that 9/11 incident was done by Arabs. You IDIOT. You have fogotten that Al Qaeda was created by USA. You mentioned terrorist states. That totle terrorist stats suots Israel very well. Israel and their Zionist ideology are the greatest terrorist in human history. Let that sink in you old bean.
Boom! El Al has been getting special treatment for far too long.
- If El Al security can intensively screen French diplomats at French airports, they can hardly complain about their people receiving scrutiny as well
- The visa restriction shows France is finally questioning why they accommodate El Al's security apparatus to such an extent that it affects their own diplomatic personnel
- El Al's reaction demonstrates an expectation that they should...
Boom! El Al has been getting special treatment for far too long.
- If El Al security can intensively screen French diplomats at French airports, they can hardly complain about their people receiving scrutiny as well
- The visa restriction shows France is finally questioning why they accommodate El Al's security apparatus to such an extent that it affects their own diplomatic personnel
- El Al's reaction demonstrates an expectation that they should receive special treatment without any corresponding accountability or criticism
All I have to say is that we all live under one world (excuse the aviation pun), so whether we like each other or not, we have to learn to how to get along and live together. No matter what your opinion is on any race, religion, creed, etc., we all exist and we have to accept that and live with that.
People are just getting frustrated both with Hamas and the current Israeli direction of travel, compounded by a perceived lack of action or will on both sides it’s a mess.
Funny, I haven't heard a single "pro-Palestine" leftist condemn a single that that Hamas has done.
Bernie Sanders: "I absolutely condemn the horrifying attack on Israel by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. There is no justification for this violence, and innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "I condemn Hamas' attack in the strongest possible terms. No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region."
Other...
Bernie Sanders: "I absolutely condemn the horrifying attack on Israel by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. There is no justification for this violence, and innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "I condemn Hamas' attack in the strongest possible terms. No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region."
Other "Squad" members also condemned Hamas:
Ilhan Omar: "I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas"
Jamaal Bowman: "I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives"
Broader leftist criticism exists: The Nation published pieces titled "The Catastrophic Moral Failing of Those Who Won't Condemn Hamas" arguing that "anyone who claims to be on the left should" condemn Hamas's massacre of civilians
Easiest way to understand the truth live under Hamas rule and live under Israeli rule. That SHOULD make it clear. If not, live under rule of the real ruler of Hamas, ultimately Palestine… Iran.
Truth is simple
Truth is simple. Hamas is result of Israeli oppression, which is backed by US and until recently many EU countries. Remove that oppression, and Hamas is gone too... easiest way to control the people is to invent the enemy... there always must be an enemy. Iran is doing it, USA is doing it as well as Israel
That is correct - remove the oppression and most of the fodder that feeds ethno-nationalism disappears pretty quickly. Having secure access to food, clean water, shelter, medical care, economic viability, and, some would argue, eduction, and ethno-nationalism further diminishes.
I am trying to figure out if you are being sarcastic or naive. What oppression? Many Palestinians from Gaza worked in Israel everyday. They were free to enter Isreal, make a living and go back to Gaza. How many Jews were allowed to safely enter Gaza? How many Muslims are elected to Israeli government positions? How many billions of dollars have been sent to Gaza to build medical facilities, provide food and education? What prevented...
I am trying to figure out if you are being sarcastic or naive. What oppression? Many Palestinians from Gaza worked in Israel everyday. They were free to enter Isreal, make a living and go back to Gaza. How many Jews were allowed to safely enter Gaza? How many Muslims are elected to Israeli government positions? How many billions of dollars have been sent to Gaza to build medical facilities, provide food and education? What prevented the people of Gaza of building their own infrastructure, creating jobs? Name a single time Israel initiated a military action without provocation. Why do other Muslim countries refuse to let Palestinians into their country? I also find it amusing that so many people start the clock in 1948 as to when the issues began. I guess that suits your narrative. If you want to site history, then site all of it.
Is Israel right for all of their actions? That's subjective.
@Richard
"Why do other Muslim countries refuse to let Palestinians into their country?" What a dumb question from a dumb old bean like you. Why would Palestinians leave their land? Why don't you ask Israel to stop oppressing them? Palestinians were never free to enter Israel to work. They were bullied at check points and they would arrest some of them whenever they doubted them and throw them in prison even if they were...
@Richard
"Why do other Muslim countries refuse to let Palestinians into their country?" What a dumb question from a dumb old bean like you. Why would Palestinians leave their land? Why don't you ask Israel to stop oppressing them? Palestinians were never free to enter Israel to work. They were bullied at check points and they would arrest some of them whenever they doubted them and throw them in prison even if they were innocent. Thousands of innocent Palestinians are in Israeli prisons only because Israel doubted them and takes fun in bullying them.
"What prevented the people of Gaza of building their own infrastructure, creating jobs?" Another dumb question. Have not seean how ISrael has bombed Gaza? Destroying everything building and infrastructre from schools to hospitals to aid centers. You comments shows that you are are a genocide sympathizer.
What oppression? What a stupid idiotic statement. Hamas and Palestinians supporters are some of the dumbest. Hamas is inherently evil and you have Palestinians who support such an evil regime.
Free my Goldfish! From the bowl to the pond, all Goldfish will be free!
Your an antifishism and racists. Don't discriminate Goldfish fish against other fish.
#AllFishMatters
While those actions are not acceptable, they pale in comparison to carrying out a genocide in the 21st century.
If Israel's intent was "genocide", they could have accomplished it within half a day using their nuclear weapons arsenal, or within a couple of weeks using conventional weapons and a massive ground invasion.
Meanwhile the Chinese government continues to enslave and commit genocide against the Uighurs in Xinjiang, and Putin's genocidal plans for the Ukrainians proceed with barely a peep from progressive activists. Where are their matches? Their slogans? Their vitriolic social media posts?...
If Israel's intent was "genocide", they could have accomplished it within half a day using their nuclear weapons arsenal, or within a couple of weeks using conventional weapons and a massive ground invasion.
Meanwhile the Chinese government continues to enslave and commit genocide against the Uighurs in Xinjiang, and Putin's genocidal plans for the Ukrainians proceed with barely a peep from progressive activists. Where are their matches? Their slogans? Their vitriolic social media posts? Where are the ATC crew telling Chinese pilots "Free the Uighurs!"?
You're all so shallow, it's laughably pathetic. If you really want to help the Gazans, give up your comfortable lives in the West and volunteer to help on the ground, instead of shouting futile platitudes into the ether.
Best reply in this whole thread and...crickets.
Please don't associate nuclear weapons with genocide.
As we all know there's only one nation who ever used nukes, and they'll deny about committing genocide.
Because the use of nuclear weapons against Japan some eighty years ago wasn’t done with genocidal intent any more than the Israeli campaign in Gaza is done with genocidal intent. My point was that if Israel really wanted to kill everyone in Gaza, they could have turned the entire territory into a flat sheet of radioactive glass in the space of an afternoon. Even without using nuclear weapons they could have bombed the place into...
Because the use of nuclear weapons against Japan some eighty years ago wasn’t done with genocidal intent any more than the Israeli campaign in Gaza is done with genocidal intent. My point was that if Israel really wanted to kill everyone in Gaza, they could have turned the entire territory into a flat sheet of radioactive glass in the space of an afternoon. Even without using nuclear weapons they could have bombed the place into gravel and incinerated the entire populace with incendiary bombs before sending in ground troops to murder any survivors. Using the term “genocide” is hysterical, and nonsensical.
Yeah, the visa thing looks like its tit-for-tat. Visa delays are a pretty mild form of diplomatic 'elbows'.
Doubt the French government would have suspended visa renewals without working to address this directly with the airline or Foreign Ministry first... there's no doubt more to the story.
Immanuel Kant said that one’s action is appropriate only if it is appropriate for everyone else too. Imagine now if every air traffic controller in the world now included a political statement in their communication with pilots.
Unprofessional: yes
Unreasonable: no
You said say from the occupation from 1948 and stealing land until now, Israel is a pariah state and the whole world is tired of their behavior
…. and yet you post nothing in condemnation of the mad mullahs of Iran, or, the Hamas terrorist who are holding the people of Gaza and Israeli hostage.
While I do not approve of Iran government, did they attack Israel or was it other way around. Also I do not approve Hamas holding hostages, but didn't Israel imprison thousands of Palestinians, including children?
What about the Israelis holding the Palestinins hostages?
There are those who post here who cannot tell the difference between a terrorist, a criminal and an innocent Israeli baby. Uneducated hypocrites, plane and simple just like Jane.
" stealing land until now,"
What nation do you live in and can you prove that whatever country or tribe you originate from has never since the dawn of humanity taken something that didn't belong to them.
Get real.
Free Palestine
Absolutely …. Free the Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza from the Hamas terrorists immediately.
Absolutely …. Free the Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza from the Hamas terrorists immediately.
Absolutely free hostages, however removing Hamas is only possible if Israel will stop decedades long occupation of Palestine....
And also free the Palestinians from the Israeli occupation.
Once Hamas and all of their supporters are no more. Then free them.
Glad to see people continuing to take principled stands against Israel for its genocide and decades of illegal appropriation and occupation of land that is not Israel's.
Bumbling response typical of someone who is totally ignorant of the history and politics of the ancient lands of the Israelites.
Aero,
It's so late in London. You claim to be a retiree yet you're routinely up past midnight using an anonymous fake guest account.
Go to bed. You're ruining your fake back story ;)
If its so principled, why not include "Free Palestine!" in all your work emails as a signature or great every customer or work call with that phrase?
What are you some sort of coward?
So what? They control Israel not France.
This must lead to immediate termination of the said controller. Absolutely unprofessional and inappropriate. It's one thing if someone packing meals at a factory does something stupid, and it's another if it's done by someone who is supposed to be highly qualified and responsible for safety of thousands every day. Causing conflict on the frequency for no reason other than your ego is just unacceptable and such people have no place in the ATC.
I...
This must lead to immediate termination of the said controller. Absolutely unprofessional and inappropriate. It's one thing if someone packing meals at a factory does something stupid, and it's another if it's done by someone who is supposed to be highly qualified and responsible for safety of thousands every day. Causing conflict on the frequency for no reason other than your ego is just unacceptable and such people have no place in the ATC.
I worked in the travel industry at a far less critical role and I would never even dream of treating someone differently just because I disagree with their government.
I couldn’t agree more. This is such a very different level than the (already awful) Iberia incident. Air Traffic Controllers, as we are constantly reminded in the US right now, are difficult to train because they’re drilled to remain as calm and professional as possible, to be as detached as they can, and to be clear and economical with language.
Allowing politics to interfere would make the job impossible. In 1968, when Aeroflot and...
I couldn’t agree more. This is such a very different level than the (already awful) Iberia incident. Air Traffic Controllers, as we are constantly reminded in the US right now, are difficult to train because they’re drilled to remain as calm and professional as possible, to be as detached as they can, and to be clear and economical with language.
Allowing politics to interfere would make the job impossible. In 1968, when Aeroflot and Pan Am first launched direct flights between the USA and the Soviet Union, I have never read of any incident with air traffic controllers on either end harassing the pilots because of their beliefs/nationality.
This is unprofessional and deeply unsafe for civil aviation in France. How could anyone believe a controller who feels the need to express political opinions over ATC frequencies could properly, or fairly, prioritize aircraft movements during an emergency? The controller needs to be terminated immediately for safety reasons.
I'm so tired of all this performative virtue signalling. "Free Palestine" is the new "Free Tibet" meaningless slogans from lobotomized muppets looking to prove their social justice street cred.
Actually you know what, signalling you’re against genocide and despicable crimes against humanity is ok when you see idiots who will just stand by and tolerate it.
Make the oppressor know they’re despised.
Tibet is the Four Seasons compared with Gaza.
Ben, do you have any "Plan B" to leave the country when the current government decided to go after gay dads with children?
There are some who read the posts on this subject and believe that the Islamic revolution to take over the Western World is a fallacy. Dream on, live, learn and endure.
Will you be shining your Wonder Woman mirror of magic and truth into everyone's faces again?
Will you announce it when you do so?
Don’t you just love being droll …. you poor darlink …. :-)
France, Spain & other nations Diplomatic Missions are facing severe hardship issues for many years now, But when even a minor issue happens to Israeli passengers or their airline staff, It becomes a Major News in all the Blogs. The Cohen's & The Gary Leff's really Push their agenda to the extreme. (Not You, you have been very Impartial)
this comments section is going to make me yearn for some level-headed Timmy D analysis
Lmao at comments talking about Islamists…. Vast majority of Europeans absolutely despise Israel today, and nothing to do with religion. Never has a country gone so far to make the world hate them. All Israel has done is endured they have no future, as no politician is being elected with a pro-Israel stance in the medium-term.
You’d think so, but that AIPAC/Israel lobby money still goes a far way…
@Acequik - Yes, that's why virtually no European government actually stands up against Israel beyond some vague statements.. lol. Keep dreaming, most Europeans don't give a damn about the conflict and the rest is maybe 50/50. Just because one group shouts louder doesn't mean they're a majority or even relevant. There are maybe two member states where Hamas has relevant support (Spain, Ireland), the rest of Europe haven't lose their minds yet.
Lmao keep tellimg yourself that
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/03/public-support-for-israel-in-western-europe-lowest-ever-recorded-yougov?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Hatred for Israel and what it’s doing is extremely widespread in western Europe now. All age-groups, all backgrounds.
Hell, even with US republicans, about half under the age of 50 now view Israel negatively
@Samo. No-one supports Hamas. They are actual terrorists. We want a million ordinary people in Gaza to be safe from both terrorists and Israel.
Give the average European a few drinks and then bring up immigration, and chances are you'll get a tirade about how unchecked Muslim immigration is ruining the continent. Nonstop stories about how Germany has been completely wrecked, how France's cities barely feel French anymore, how the Netherlands is going down the toilet. There's a reason the Eastern European nations put up so much resistance to taking migrants. Most Europeans fall somewhere between being highly suspicious...
Give the average European a few drinks and then bring up immigration, and chances are you'll get a tirade about how unchecked Muslim immigration is ruining the continent. Nonstop stories about how Germany has been completely wrecked, how France's cities barely feel French anymore, how the Netherlands is going down the toilet. There's a reason the Eastern European nations put up so much resistance to taking migrants. Most Europeans fall somewhere between being highly suspicious of Islam and absolutely despising it, and behind the veneer of performative anger about Gaza, most of them recognize that Israel is closer to their way of life than the other side.
There might be widespread faux-outrage in Europe about Gaza, but I promise if push came to shove and they were asked to take a million refugees tomorrow, the vast majority of ethnic Europeans (western, central, eastern, doesn't matter) would throw Gaza under the bus immediately.
So many clueless comments with not the slightest idea of views in Europe.
Are the majority of Europeans big fans of widespread immigration from Muslim countries? No.
Does that mean Europeans are ok with the mass murder if children and enforced starvation on people just because they’re Muslim? Absolutely not.
Just like most Europeans don’t love their Roma populations… but do we just decide to murder them all because of that? No, because...
So many clueless comments with not the slightest idea of views in Europe.
Are the majority of Europeans big fans of widespread immigration from Muslim countries? No.
Does that mean Europeans are ok with the mass murder if children and enforced starvation on people just because they’re Muslim? Absolutely not.
Just like most Europeans don’t love their Roma populations… but do we just decide to murder them all because of that? No, because we are not inhuman monsters. And believe me, that is how your average European views Israel today… inhuman monsters.
‘from the horrific October 7 terrorist attacks, to the current unimaginable humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza’
Mmmm one is ‘attacks’ but the other is just ‘colateral humanitarian crisis‘?
Yep, that's what happens when you rape people's kids in front of them and slaughter unarmed parents in front of their kids. In their own homes. Shoved infants into ovens and murdered them.
Gazans celebrated this. They can all eat excrement and die.
@stogieguy7 you bigot.
"Free Palestine" from the genocidal, terrorist, criminal and rogue state of Israel. Israel is no doubt the greatest terrorist country on earth. They have been playing victim for years and now the world is opening their eyes. The world has come to know what level of a criminal state Israel is. Every crime they accuse Hamas of committing has been committed by the IDF itself. Israel and its lobby controls US...
@stogieguy7 you bigot.
"Free Palestine" from the genocidal, terrorist, criminal and rogue state of Israel. Israel is no doubt the greatest terrorist country on earth. They have been playing victim for years and now the world is opening their eyes. The world has come to know what level of a criminal state Israel is. Every crime they accuse Hamas of committing has been committed by the IDF itself. Israel and its lobby controls US and EU leaders. Israel is also linked to Epstein files. Israel was never innocent and it will never be innocent. Every crime Israel accused Hamas of commiting on October 7th was Israel confessing to their own crimes.
The palestinians using their own people as human shields is the reason why it is a humanitarian crisis.
I can honestly see this happening more and more. The world is watching people die and the latest news of Israel taking full control of Gaza ain't sitting well. Germany has stopped the supply of weapons to Israel. Australia will recognise Palestine as a state in September.
Say what you will but most of the world is sick & tired of what is happening there.
Will we see flight restrictions soon?
Yup, Israelis need to wise up and expect the rest of the world to keep telling them to “Free Palestine”. Whinge all you want about the comments, but you also have the power to change the situation.
Germany is still supplying many weapons to Israel, only some categories got their permission revoked.
The world is becoming dominated by Islamic extremism and those non Muslims who blindly support the antisemitic standpoint.
What a nonsense statement.
Only if you are an Islamic extremist, Islamic terrorist supporter or an antisemite, your preference is Aaron?
Perhaps you are too young to remember 9/11, or too old and senile to remember 7/10?
You are a fundamentally unserious person.
No, I remember both events. Not an Islamic extremest, terrorist supporter, or antisemite. The majority of the world is moving beyond ridiculous tropes of being pro-Palestinian equated to being pro-Islamic terrorism or antisemtic, as much as Hasbara propaganda tried to weaponize such statements for decades.
So Aaron, you prefer the Iranian backed Hamas propaganda machine rhetoric and actions?
What an idiotic binary you keep suggesting. Hamas didn’t exist until the late 1980s. The occupation existed long before that.
@Aaron
I agree with you. Hamas was created in 1987. Illegal Occupation has existed since 1948. AeroB13a is an idiot.
The problem is that France is already dominated in some places by Islamists, who are spreading more and more and cannot be deported so easily, because they got French Passports.
In other words, they are citizens.
Just because you disagree with someone's religion, doesn't mean you can unilaterally revoke their citizenship. This isn't Israel or Nazi Germany much as you may wish.
Of course, I disagree with Islamists. Islamists have already caused so much suffering around the world. Have more self-confidence!