12/11/06

El Al Boycott!

No, the Arab enemies of Israel have not declared a boycott on El Al.

The Orthodox Jews have! There is a possibility that this boycott will lead to the end of Sabbath observance by El Al and the formation of a distinctly Orthodox airline.

That's not an outcome that I'd like to see.

El Al faces religious boycott

A fervently Orthodox group declared a boycott of El Al over recent Shabbat flights.
Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv, leader of the powerful Lithuanian religious community, ordered in an edict this week that his followers no longer use Israel´s national airline. His move is expected to mirrored among other fervently Orthodox sects, which together make up as much as 30 percent of El Al´s clientele.

The controversy was sparked by the carrier´s decision, after a public-sector strike disrupted work at Israeli airports late last month, to relieve the backlog by letting some flights operate into Friday evening. There was also religious ire at reports that passengers who boarded an El Al flight in Russia were served non-kosher sandwiches.

Some Orthodox leaders have called for El Al to sign a undertaking not to violate religious codes, something the company has resisted. Israeli media quoted El Al officials as saying the carrier may be forced to respond to the boycott by running on Shabbat full-time.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"There is a possibility that this boycott will lead to the end of Sabbath observance by El Al and the formation of a distinctly Orthodox airline.

That's not an outcome that I'd like to see."

Which part do you fear, the end of El Al being Sabbath observant (which the boycott could lead to, or, which the boycott can prevent) or, the formation of a distinctly Orthodox airline?

Tzvee Zahavy said...

the whole mess is unfortunate

Anonymous said...

I know someone who had non-refundable tickets and were still told not to fly!

Anonymous said...

was not were