The diplomatic effort to prevent the closing of the skies

Miri Regev, the Minister of Transportation, commented today (Monday) on the recommendation of the European Union, regarding the cancellation of all flights to Israel. In a message issued on her behalf, she referred to the efforts being made to lead to the cancellation of the recommendation. In the announcement, Regev emphasized that she is coordinating with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. 

"The tremendous efforts to cancel the European Union's recommendation regarding flights to Israel continue." It was also written that "Transportation Minister Miri Regev arrived in Hungary in the last few hours and is holding a marathon of meetings with the relevant ministers in order to cancel the European Union's recommendation regarding flights to Israel."

Also, Regev held a conversation on the subject with the Hungarian Minister Goyas, who is considered one of the ministers closest to Prime Minister Orban. It should be mentioned that Hungary serves as the EU President. In addition, she spoke with Janos Buka, the minister responsible for the European Union. 

According to Israeli officials, intense political activity is taking place today, in coordination between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Transportation and their offices, at various levels.This is in order to try and apply as much pressure as possible in various European capitals to reverse the decision to recommend to the airlines not to fly to Israel in light of the security situation.

The recommendation came at the initiative of the Ministry of Transport of the European Union, the body entrusted with the regulation. After the publication of the recommendation in the Union, a round of consultations is held with the countries of the Union regarding the actual implementation of the recommendation.

In Israel they are not going to wait to see who will listen to the recommendation and who will not. Therefore, all embassies of Israel in Europe were instructed to take action on the issue with the political and professional levels in their country in order to cancel the decision.

The Israeli message is that the Israel Aviation Authority knows how to take precautions when required and ensure the safety of aviation and Israeli airspace. The evidence for this is that Israel will not damage any aircraft during the year, including during the Iranian attack on Israel. Israel's ambassadors in Europe convey a message that the recommendation is a disproportionate, political move and does not stem from professional considerations.