A self-serving, myopic Democratic Congressman from New York is accusing US airlines of “effectively boycotting” Israel by suspending service during a time of great uncertainty and reasonable security concerns. We need to call out Ritchie Torres for acting like a petulant and stupid child…
No, US Airlines Are Not “Boycotting” Israel
Let’s first take a look at the letter (.pdf), that Congressman Ritchie Torres (D – NY) sent this week to the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
I am writing to express concern about the suspension of air travel between the United States and Israel. The suspension has been so prolonged and so pervasive that El Al, an Israeli airline, has become the sole carrier offering direct flights from America to Israel. The lack of competition has made air travel to Israel less available and less affordable, putting customers at the mercy of a de facto monopoly that can easily gouge prices with impunity.
Unlike in 2014, when the FAA forbade air travel to Israel (generating considerable controversy at the time), the American airline industry has arbitrarily and unilaterally imposed its own ban on travel to Israel, independently of an order from the FAA. Airlines should be prohibited from effectively boycotting or otherwise discriminating against the world’s only Jewish State. It is one thing to temporarily suspend air travel to Israel on security grounds as defined by the FAA. But to unilaterally suspend air travel indefinitely until mid-2025, as American Airlines has done, has the practical effect of a boycott. Given the arbitrary length of the suspension, one could be forgiven for thinking that the BDS movement had taken over the American aviation industry without anyone noticing, much less crying foul. By what logic and in what universe is it safe for El Al to travel to Israel but too dangerous for American Airlines, Delta, and United to do so? It is worth noting that UAE airlines like Etihad, FlyDubai, and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi continue to fly to Israel without incident.
We are calling on every American airline to restore air travel to Israel and to operate based on FAA guidance in order to prevent the appearance and the substance of discrimination against the Jewish State.
I am calling upon the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta, and United to end the unilateral + indefinite suspensions of air travel to Israel. The operative words here are ‘unilateral’ and ‘indefinite.’
Air travel suspensions should have time limits and FAA approval. Instead of… pic.twitter.com/J1uhKGg98k
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) August 29, 2024
Yes dude, you get your name in the papers for stirring up a brouhahha. And of course, my support for Israel is hardly a secret here. But talk about a tone-deaf and incoherent letter. Does he really believe this or is he simply trying to pander to a base of voters that also does not think critically?
Some thoughts.
- You think United Airlines or Delta Air Lines would leave profit on the table without good cause? Travel to Tel Aviv has traditionally been bread and butter route for these carriers. There is no way they are simply taking part in a “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement. US carriers have made clear they cannot wait to restore service to Israel, but can only do so WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.
- It’s not like US carriers can just start and stop service on a dime…and when Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran declare an imminent intention to attack, should US carriers just ignore those warnings?
- Why does El Al continue service? Well, maybe because its aircraft are equipped with anti-missile technology and other deterrents against attacks? Did you not know that, Congressman? Or…wait for it…maybe because the carrier is based in Israel and can either operate or shut down?
- This outrage over airlines “unilaterally” suspending service to Israel is laughable–that’s what airlines do.
- To argue that Delta and United are “effectively boycotting or otherwise discriminating against the world’s only Jewish State” is therefore patently absurd.
Finally, I see that One Mile At A Time has written about this as well and come to a very similar conclusion. I think (and hope) this is an issue everyone can agree on. I honestly don’t know what kind of irrational fools people like Torres are trying to appeal to.
CONCLUSION
New York Congressman Ritchie Torres is out of his mind in suggesting that US carriers are nefariously boycotting Israel. On the contrary, US carriers are itching to resume service to Israel…but will do so only when they feel (and their unions feel) it is safe to do so.
Look, I’d love to see US carriers return…and they will…but let’s not pretend that this is some diabolical conspiracy theory meant to discriminate against the Jewish state. No, it is reasonable security and operational concerns. There is no ulterior motive.
