By COLlive reporter
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to Israel on Wednesday with one goal in mind: Showing the world thats it’s safe in the Holy land.
He landed at Ben Gurion International Airport at approximately 5:00 PM on an El Al flight, following decisions by U.S. and European airlines to suspend flights to Israel over fears of incoming Hamas rocket fire.
“Halting flights here – when the airport is safe – hurts Israel and rewards Hamas for attacking Israel,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “Hamas wants to shut down the airport; we can’t let that happen.”
The announcement about his ‘protest flight’ was widely reported in the U.S. media and warmly accepted by many supporters of Israel. The post about it on COLlive’s Facebook page garnered over 2,000 Likes, 600 Shares and 100 appreciative comments.
Bloomberg said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s flight ban to Israel was “wrong.” As a trained pilot, he added: “Ben Gurion airport is the best protected airport in the world. It is safe and secure and flights from all over the world are landing here. It was an overreaction for the FAA to halt U.S. flights here – and a mistake they should correct.”
Personally greeting him at the airport was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who used the opportunity to brief the billionaire and philanthropist about the Israel Defense Forces’ Operation Protective Edge to impair Hamas’ capability to attack Israel.
“He’s been a great friend of New York City and America, as have the Israeli people,” Bloomberg said about Netanyahu. “I flew here to show solidarity with the Israeli people, who have come under attack from Hamas, and to show that it’s safe to fly in and out of Israel.”
Bloomberg then traveled to Jerusalem to meet with outgoing President Shimon Peres, who is in his last day in office. The meeting took place at the President’s home.
Next, he paid a Shiva call to the Steinberg family at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem. Max Steinberg was an American citizen originally from California who volunteered to serve in the IDF. He was killed in Gaza this weekend.
Bloomberg addressed a delegation of Teach for America members who are currently stranded in Israel due to the travel restrictions.
“Israel – like every other nation – has a right to defend itself and defend its borders against those who cross it to attack it,” he stated.
“In the U.S., if hostile forces crossed over our border from Mexico or Canada, we would respond with overwhelming force to destroy those who are seeking to destroy us. Israelis should not be expected to live under the constant threat of rocket attacks without their government doing something about it,” he said.
Later, Bloomberg was joined by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat in an interview with Wolf Blitzer, the anchor and host of The Situation Room on the CNN network.
Bloomberg took great offense at a question Blitzer posed about whether a U.S. State Department travel advisory was made for political purposes, and actually scolded the CNN anchor for the suggestion on-air.
UPDATE:
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted its restrictions on U.S. airline flights into and out of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday.
After being renewed earlier today, the cancellation is effective at approximately 11:45 p.m. EDT.
The FAA said in a statement that before making this decision, it consulted with its U.S. government counterparts “to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation.”
“The agency will continue to closely monitor the very fluid situation around Ben Gurion Airport and will take additional actions, as necessary,” it said.
GO Bloomberg
Thank you bloomberg!
I’m a New Yorker living in Australia I want to let you know : you make me proud!
And may we all take example and be proactive and DO SOMETHING, DO MITZVOS, READ THE REBBES SICHOS ABOUT THIS…..
NOW-
MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!
In 1998 there was a international airport opened in gaza called Yasser Arafat airport.
It was destroyed by the IDF in 2001.
Since then there has not been an airport.
that is not the meaning of the haftora. Hashem is telling the navi that He will make like an iron pillar against the yidden who are angry at him for his words. look in the meforshim
Hope he runs in 2016 he already seems more presidential than the current לא יצלח
Blitzer is nauseating to watch and listen to. He asks the DUMBEST questions and uses his horrible “I am a robot” tone. What an embarrassment to CNN!
bloomberg and netanyahu look like twins!
Bloomberg was right. Let me explain. What Blitzer, may he do Teshuva, wants, is to paint a picture that all Jews think that the US is out to get them. To the average goy who watches CNN this is irrational, unreasonable, and Kafouy Toiv, since the US gives EY so much! So, if Bloomberg will echo the sentiment that this is a political move on behalf of the US govt. we lose “support” from the “amcha goy” who watches CNN. Blitzer, is not STUPID. That is is his agenda. Bloomberg, to his credit, was “faster to the draw” than Blitzer,… Read more »
What Arab side? There aren’t any airports in Gaza, and if there were they would be on the no fly list 24/7/365.
Please, get your facts straight buddy.
It doesn’t matter if he was right or wrong. It’s not an appropriate question to ask on air.
Because if not they are either admitting that the bombardment by the Arabs is much more reckless and dangerous than that being done by Israel (the opposite of the picture being painted of Israel as the aggressor)- or else they are just openly showing a good old fashioned prejudice against Israel. Same old news.
kerry the bully and the horrible is trying to force israel into a ceasefire
not allowing US flights to go to israel is defintely political
Hashem will punish Obama for this action together with all his other anti-Israel actions
wow. still pleasantly in shock Bloomberg did this. 1 time I agree with him in over a decade!
With all the criticizm that Bloomberg’s gotten while in office, all is as naught in comparison to this one beautiful move of his.
“Yesh koneh olami bshah achos”
I always disagree with the liberal Blitzer, but I’m afraid here he’s right. The terrorist supporter, Obama may be using the FAA to pressure Israel. Just terrible, to hurt the economy of Israel so devastatingly.
The state department is using this as a tool to pressure Israel! Its absolutely clear!
I’ve been having a difficult time trying to understand that lately. Thank you Mike Bloomberg for bringing light to the Rebbe’s words.
יִרְמְיָהוּ א
יח. וַאֲנִי הִנֵּה נְתַתִּיךָ הַיּוֹם
לְעִיר מִבְצָר
וּלְעַמּוּד בַּרְזֶל
וּלְחֹמוֹת נְחֹשֶׁת
עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ
לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה
לְשָׂרֶיהָ לְכֹהֲנֶיהָ וּלְעַם הָאָרֶץ:
And I, behold I have made you today
into a fortified city
and into an iron pillar,
and into copper walls
over the entire land,
over the kings of Judah,
over its princes,
over its priests,
and over the people of the land.
Thanks for the connection to chitas. Beautiful!
His gaon Yaakov is shining! Chazak to mayor bloomberg for uplifting eretz Yisroel
Moshiach now
The Alter Rebbe said:
“One should live with the times – That means with the Parsha of the week.”
WOW!
Woow great man,and thx collive for the updated news yashor koach…
The daily Torah portion that corresponds to the *very same day* as the FAA Flight ban on Israel
Bamidbar 33:
Verse 55. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land from before you, then those whom you leave over will be as spikes in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you settle.
Rashi’s Commentary:
Thorns: Heb. וְלִצְנִינִם ……. a hedge of thorns which will surround you, fencing you in and confining you *so that none can leave or enter*. –