NEW YORK: Most American and European airlines are not flying to Israel’s Tel-Aviv, airport despite pleas by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu that the Israeli skies are safe.him to intervene in the matter but obviously the latter cannot intervene or compromise on the security of passengers.

The US Federal Aviation Authority said on Tuesday it had it told US carriers they were prohibited from flying to or from Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for up to 24 hours, citing “the potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict in Israel and Gaza”. The FAA later extended the ban by another 24 hours on Wednesday evening.and from Tel Aviv for an additional 24 hours. The decision also applies to Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Belgian Airlines.

“At the present time no adequate authoritative new information is available that would justify a resumption of flights. In close coordination with the responsible authorities Lufthansa is continually evaluating the safety situation for its total flight network,” the company said.

On Tuesday, it suspended flights for 36 hours following the FAA decision.

Published in Dawn, July 24th , 2014