Shin Bet bans Israeli airline flights to Scandinavia
Drastic move stems from dispute with foreign security officials over pre-flight procedures
Forget about your summer vacation to Stockholm. The Shin Bet has announced a ban on Israeli airlines flying to Scandinavian countries.
The Shin Bet issued a sweeping ban on all Israeli flights to Scandinavia because of a disagreement with local security authorities over security procedures, Channel 2 reported on Tuesday. The local security forces refused to allow Israeli security officers to conduct pre-flight interrogations of travelers who look suspicious, according to Shin Bet protocol.
The new ban is expected to impact air travel between Israel and Scandinavia severely, especially since 75% of the seats on this summer’s flights have already been sold. It is still unclear what alternatives, if any, will be provided for ticket-holders.
Arkia airlines wrote an urgent letter to Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen asking him to repeal the decision, which will hurt the company and passengers alike.