The not-so friendly skies

A storm is brewing between the government and Israel’s three airlines — El Al, Arkia, and Israir — over Israel’s intention to formally sign the “Open Skies” agreement with the European Union. The government is expected to adopt the agreement on Sunday and the airlines are threatening to strike if that happens.

“Closing the skies,” reads the headline in Israel Hayom, with the paper writing that the airlines fear they will have to lay off staff and cut back service. The chairman of the Federation of Transport Workers Union Avi Edri said: “The transportation minister promised us last year that this agreement would protect the competitiveness of the airlines and today he is the first to stick the knife in our back and kill the airlines. We have no choice but to disable the airlines.”

If there is a strike on Sunday, only outbound flights will be affected; inbound planes are expected to land as normal.

Israel Hayom points out that the agreement was approved in July 2012, but not signed because of early elections. The agreement would allow for more competition among airlines to and from Israel, hopefully lowering airfare costs and increasing tourism. According to the paper, the agreement would be implemented over five years so that the airlines could adjust to changes.

While Israeli airlines worry about their future, Maariv cites Bank Leumi sources who say that the controversial debt forgiveness between the bank and Nochi Dankner’s company, Ganden, will most likely be approved. Despite the public outcry, the bank believes that the deal was structured correctly and that the Bank of Israel will give its approval.

Maariv also gives front-page space to a rant by Nadav Eyal, who wants to create a new economy because this one has failed Israel so far. He writes that Israel’s economy “was controlled by tycoons and their allies, lenient regulators and politicians. Ostensibly, the economy seemed free.” Eyal writes that the economic protests of two years ago changed the situation, and that now the Israeli public has woken up and things are moving. “Now we work hard and try to succeed, and want competition and a fair labor market, and we do not see a contradiction between economic freedom and affordable housing.”

The battle for the bonus

Yedioth Ahronoth split its front page between the looming airline strike and the news that IDF reservists will receive their full end-of-year bonuses after all. On Wednesday the IDF announced that, due to the large number of reservists called up during Operation Defensive Shield, reservists would not receive their full bonuses, but instead receive about one-third less. The public outcry over the cuts led to Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon moving 60 million shekels to pay for the bonuses. Hazay Dreksler, a reservist from Sha’arei Hatikvah, told Yedioth, “When the state calls, we answer. It’s nice to see that it knows how to give back.”

Haaretz reports that a decision by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein regarding welfare benefits for Jerusalem Arab residents could end up affecting Jerusalem’s borders. Weinstein issued a legal decision that allows Jerusalem Arabs who hold Israeli ID cards to claim welfare benefits even if they reside outside Jerusalem’s municipal city limits, but on the Israeli side of the security barrier. Weinstein noted that the decision applies only to residents who left Jerusalem before the barrier was constructed. The paper points out that this decision also reinforces the idea that the security barrier acts as the de facto border for Jerusalem, instead of the city’s actual municipal border.

While Jerusalem is figuring out its borders, Israel’s southern border came under fire again on Thursday. Israel Hayom reports that two mortars were fired from Gaza and landed in the Eskhol Region of Israel, causing no injuries or damage. Perhaps most troubling about the incident was that no red-alert siren was sounded in the area.

Ladies only

Israel Hayom reports on a new coffee shop opening in Afula. The twist? It’s for women only. The women-only cafe was started by a Chabad rabbi and his wife who aren’t only serving coffee, but also classes in Judaism, cooking, and activities for the kids. The cafe plans to be open all week, including Saturday, when there will be only classes and no coffee.

In other news, high school students who are looking to join a combat unit in the IDF have one more health issue to worry about: their weight. Yedioth is reporting that the IDF is planning to include weight and BMI in the criteria for determining whether a cadet is medically fit for a combat unit. The goal of the new requirements is to prevent cadets from arriving at boot camp woefully out of shape and unable to complete the training.

FInally, Maariv reports that, after three years of repairs and over 290 million shekels spent, roads in Israel are still confusing and deadly. The article highlights an area by the Ashdod port, which has been the site of many accidents. According to police, one reason for the continued danger is the lack of visible signs, which leaves many drivers confused and lost. The paper reports that, over the last three years, 10 people have been killed on that section of the road, as well as 253 injured.