Senior sources close to the Canadian government today demanded that Israel accede to the request of Air-Canada, Canada's national airline, to increase the number of its flights to Israel. They claimed that, among other reasons, this step was owed in recompense for Canadian assistance, by way of the Israel embassy in Ottowa, in rescuing Cuban Jews and bringing them to Israel. "The two matters are connected" the sources said. "Canada showed much more than good will in assisting Israel with Cuban Jews, which cannot be said for the Israeli government and Ministry of Transport."
The Canadian government confirmed last night that it secretly helped rescue hundreds of Cuban Jews. Cuban Jews presented immigration requests to the Canadian embassy in Havana, Cuba's capital, which were then sent to Israel's embassy in Ottowa, capital of Canada, and from there to Tel Aviv. Approval of immigration to Israel was sent to the Cuban embassy in Ottowa, and the Cuban Jews received exit visas from Canadian papers.
Air-Canada's request to increase the number of its flights to Israel was communicated from the professional level, the Civil Aviation Authority, to the political level. Minister of Tourism Amnon Lipkin-Shahak met yesterday with Canadian ambassador to Israel Michael Bell, who complained that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport refuse to allow Air-Canada to have 7 weekly flights during the winter, as is allowed in summer, and restrict Air-Canada to 4 weekly flights.
Shahak expressed his support for Air-Canada's request to increase its quota of flights to Israel. He promised to try to obtain approval of the request. At the same time, he noted that the decision is not subject to his ministry's authority.
Ambassador Bell threatened that rejection of Air-Canada's request will endanger the continuation of the free trade agreement between the two countries. The agreement has increased Israel-Canada trade by 60% since it was signed in 1996. According to him, the limitation on Canadian flights prevents free movement of businessmen between the two countries.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 12 October, 1999