Paris air traffic controller radios ‘Free Palestine’ to El Al pilots just after takeoff
Incident comes after El Al’s Paris offices were defaced last week; Dutch police arrest three after Israeli embassy in The Hague vandalized and doors smashed
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An air traffic controller at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris went on the radio and broadcast “Free Palestine” to the pilots of an El Al flight moments after takeoff Monday, Israel’s flagship carrier said on Tuesday.
El Al, whose Paris offices were vandalized last week, said it has been in contact with Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority over the “unprofessional and inappropriate” radio incident.
Any deviation from standard procedures could lead to disaster during takeoff, the airline said.
The Civil Aviation Authority was in contact with its French counterparts, according to El Al.
“El Al will continue to fly around the world with the Israeli flag proudly on the aircraft’s tail, while ensuring professionalism and the safety and security of passengers and crew,” the airline added.
French Transportation Minister Philippe Tabarot later announced the air traffic controller’s indefinite suspension and said disciplinary action would be taken.
Israeli Embassy in The Hague defaced, 3 arrested
The incident in France came shortly after police in the Netherlands arrested three suspects for damaging and vandalizing the Israeli Embassy in The Hague, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The ministry released photos showing the embassy’s entrance splattered with red paint and its front door smashed.
Local security authorities responded to the incident, and the three suspects were arrested by Dutch police, according to the ministry.
Since the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, there has been a wave of cases of vandalism on Jewish and Israeli sites abroad, amid a surge of anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activities protesting Israel’s subsequent war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Times of Israel Community.