El Al seeks millions in compensation for IDF use of planes during Lebanon war
Company's planes used to deliver emergency reinforcements from U.S.; also seeking compensation for loss of income.
By Zohar Blumenkrantz and Haaretz CorrespondentEl Al is seeking compensation for the use of its cargo planes to ferry emergency military reinforcements from the U.S. during the Lebanon war, and for economic losses suffered by the company during the conflict.
For the first time since the flag carrier's privatization, the company was called on for service by the military, as IDF supply stocks became depleted and in need of reinforcement from abroad.
"In a time of war, the company's cargo planes were recruited to help relieve the dire strain on the country's military," explained El Al executives.
"A segment of these flights will be billed to the Ministry of Defense, while a number of them will be considered 'enlisted' by the military and free of charge."
Income losses accrued by El Al as a result of this campaign represent just a fraction of the tens of millions of dollars in compensation that the company is seeking for losses sustained during the war in Lebanon.
In a letter to the ministries of finance, transportation, and tourism, the El Al CEO, Haim Romano, detailed the damage suffered by Israeli aviation during the war.
"The State of Israel is required to support and help Israeli aviation companies in their struggle to survive in these difficult conditions," stated Romano.
The initial damage, according to Romano, was caused by a cancellation of the majority of reservations made for air travel to Israel for the summer.
"The severity of this hit we suffered has deep ramifications, and we know from our experience that repairing the tourist and aviation infrastructure in Israel will be a long and complicated process," he added.
Further damage was caused by a drop in the number of Israelis traveling abroad. This came during the busiest months of July and August, which the tourist industry depends on to make it through the slower months of the year.
The final hit suffered by the industry was a steep rise in operational costs accrued by El Al as a result of the heightened security situation and the use of Ben-Gurion International Airport for Israel Air Force operations.
"In instances where the state uses El Al's cargo planes, they are required by law to pay compensation," Romano commented.
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An El Al plane. (Archives) |
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when israel went into its unnecessary expanded operation(war) in Lebanon, they should have calculated the eventual cost of such operation, cost of replacing lost ammunition, lost tourism, damage from rockets, deaths, loss of military equipment, cost of maintaining a 34 day war which is far beyond the means of a small country like Israel.now the government will not approve budget increase, no money, ElAl is whining, everybody complaining, so why go to war in the first place... if you cant afford... you dont do it... simple as that... if you thought the world will shell out the money and throw it on Israel, well you were wrong, the money went across the border to the north... Oh how depressing....
I've got news for you, George. Syrian and Iranian weapons for Hezbollah all arrive by clandestine routes overland. By the way - check a map. Why would arms sent by Syria or Iran by air to Beirut require stopovers at any European airport?
That's really fantastic-national carrier demands compensation for its duty because the state was in war !!! I suppose , every bussines ,every household suffered a loss,even some casualties not count in money. Great evidence of patriotic feelings,he,he
How hypocritical can you be. EU won't let EL AL stop over in Europe to refuel if carrying weapons to Israel but meanwhile EU and UN will turn 2 blind eyes as Iranian and Syrian weapons land in Beirut on a daily basis. Unfortunately the world is certainly one sided, and nothing will change until divine intervention brings upon us armageddon where 4/5's of the world's population will die and a new order will arise. So to all of you antagonizing each other just stop and hating, there is enough of it out there
The question he asks is legitimate, namely "how many deliveries of US-made cluster bombs came via El-Al"? The answer is that the Jewish State has no doubt received many tons of all kinds of armaments, via El Al as well as other routes. The Jewish people now have a state of their own and it simply our friend "Clickfool". It galls him that Jews no longer roll over an play dead. Jew are strong and control their own destiny. So let our friend keep wondering. If "Clickfool" truly cares about the lives of all those who hate us so passionately, I suggest he warn them. Warn them that you have the inside information. Warn them that these Jews are not intimidated. And if anyone tries to hurt us, they will pay a very heavy price.
Clickfool, i heard you make good pork soup..let me have the recepie to give it out to your arab friends, they love it
you never know...one of those clusterbombs might just fall out of the sky over your head
EU is a bunch of STINKING hypocrites - they sell weapons for $$$ to anti-human rights regimes and then deny democratic israel the right to defend itself. Europe is DRENCHED in 2000 years of jew-murdering and antisemitism so this should be no surprise.
wonder as much as you wish, you guardian boys im sure will come up with some inflated amount ie thousands murded in jenin HOW MANY mmmmmmm
Can anyone now be surprised at the insistence of EU members that El-Al cargoes that land at European airports be checked for military supplies? I wonder how many deliveries of US-made cluster bombs came via El-El?