John Kerry files to Tel Aviv despite FAA ban

[EC]

Why not? He's used to being shot at. He were in Vietnam, dontcha know.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The top U.S. diplomat defied a Federal Aviation Administration ban and flew into Israel's main airport Wednesday in a sign of sheer will to achieve a cease-fire agreement in the warring Gaza Strip despite little evidence of progress in ongoing negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during what appeared to be a crucial day in the flailing talks. U.S. officials have downplayed expectations for an immediate, lasting truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza. At the least, Kerry's mission Wednesday sought to define the limits of what each side would accept in a potential cease-fire.

Kerry flew into Tel Aviv on an Air Force jet one day after the FAA banned commercial flights into Ben-Gurion Airport. The FAA imposed the 24-hour restriction after a Hamas rocket landed within a mile of the airport on Tuesday.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday's meetings would continue Kerry's efforts to get Hamas and Israel to declare a truce after more than two weeks of fighting in the Gaza Strip. More than 630 Palestinians and about 30 Israelis have been killed in the violence.

More: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/john-kerry-files-tel-aviv-despite-faa-ban

[mountaineer]

Another American hero defying the FAA ban:

Defiant Michael Bloomberg Flying to Tel Aviv to Protest FAA Ban
Tuesday, 22 Jul 2014 10:58 PM
By Cathy Burke


A defiant former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – in "solidarity with the Israeli people" – announced Tuesday night that he'd fly to Tel Aviv to protest a Federal Aviation Administration ban on U.S. carriers there.

 "This evening I will be flying on El Al to Tel Aviv to show solidarity with the Israeli people and to demonstrate that it is safe to fly in and out of Israel," the billionaire ex-mayor said in a statement posted on his website.

 "Ben Gurion is the best-protected airport in the world, and El Al flights have been regularly flying in and out of it safely. The flight restrictions are a mistake that hands Hamas an undeserved victory and should be lifted immediately. I strongly urge the FAA to reverse course and permit U.S. airlines to fly to Israel."

 The FAA on Tuesday said the ban – for at least 24 hours — was instituted after a rocket landed about a mile away from Ben Gurion International Airport. Other international carriers also suspended flights to Israel's main airport.

 The ban comes in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shoot-down over eastern Ukraine, where government troops are battling Russian-supported separatists.

 According to CNN, at least 41 rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel on Tuesday in the escalating conflict.

 CNN reported that Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes insisted the Obama administration is "not going to overrule" the FAA ban on U.S. flights to Israel.

 Newsmax