After an American protest that was transferred to Israel: Today (Wednesday), the restriction on the landing of US military refueling planes at Ben Gurion Airport was lifted.
According to a report in 'Kan News', this morning the Airports Authority issued an order to the air traffic control units to allow the landing of refueling planes at Ben Gurion Airport.
This directive contradicts the directive by Transportation Minister Miri Regev to prohibit landing refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport - which was criticized by officials in the IDF and the US Central Command.
The Ministry of Transportation stated: "Following the cabinet decision led by Minister Regev, by July 21, the number of refueling aircraft parked at Ben Gurion Airport will be reduced to the agreed number. The remaining refueling aircraft will be parked at IDF bases assigned by the Ministry of Defense.".
The move is intended to allow the continuation of operational activity, while maintaining the continuity of civil aviation and preventing flight cancellations as much as possible, for the benefit of Israeli citizens. Minister Regev would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense for their cooperation, which will allow hundreds of thousands of Israelis to take their summer vacation.".
Regev's directive to prohibit landings came after Ben Gurion Airport demanded the evacuation of refueling planes ahead of the summer vacation, fearing that taking up parking spaces could cancel flights. Despite Ben Gurion Airport's demand and the directive of the Minister of Transportation, the current escalation between the US and Iran requires Sanctum to leave refueling planes and crews on full alert in Israel.
There is now concern that the masses of Israelis who planned to vacation abroad during the summer will not be able to do so due to the parking of American planes at the airport.
A senior Air Force official told Kan News: "With all due respect to Israeli vacations, the security of the country is much more important.".
At the height of the campaign against Iran, Israel had about 90 American refueling planes. Today, 34 of them are parked at Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport in the Arava. In the past, the possibility of transferring some of the planes to the Nevatim, Ramon, and Ovda Air Force bases was considered. However, the Israelis and the Americans came to a mutual understanding that an alternative to the two civilian airports could not be found.
