Will Israel’s national carrier take part in the US military campaign in Iraq? Information obtained by “Globes” shows the answer is yes.
The US administration decided to use North American Airlines (NAA), El Al’s US subsidiary, to fly US soldiers to the Persian Gulf region. El Al owns 24.9% of NAA, which carries El Al passengers in the US.
Up until now, the US has refrained from involving Israel in the war in Iraq, whether directly or indirectly. The main reason is the US effort to gain the support of Arab countries in the conflict, and its declaration that Israel will not be involved. Such involvement would make Israel a legitimate target for Iraqi attack.
11 US airlines are being used: NAA, American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), American Trans Air, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL, DNT), United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Omni Air International, USAir, World Airways, and Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL).
El Al said in response, “To the best of our knowledge, NAA works often with the US armed forces. We have still received no word or announcement of a change in the availability of NAA’s equipment for El Al, for which NAA conducts four weekly internal US flights per week.
”El Al is prepared to conduct these flights with its own equipment, which will neither affect its planned timetable, nor add airplanes to the route.”
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 17, 2003