State Dept. denies political motivation for FAA decision

The State Department quickly denies that a decision by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to suspend flights to Israel was political or driven by a motivation to apply additional pressure on Israel to accede to a ceasefire.

“It is in no way policy or politically related,” Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf says. “The FAA makes these decisions when they feel its warranted to protect US citizens.”

Harf says that in light of recent attacks around Ben Gurion Airport, the decision was understandable, but emphasized that it will be reassessed in the next 24 hours.

Harf confirms that the FAA had notified the State Department regarding the decision before it was announced, and that the State Department had, in fact, been in contact with Israeli authorities in advance of the Tuesday afternoon announcement.

— Rebecca Shimoni Stoil