‘Free Palestine!’ – French air traffic controller harasses Israeli pilots

After France denies visas to El Al security teams, and following vandalism of El Al’s Paris offices, French air traffic controller harasses El Al pilots, shouting “Free Palestine” after El Al passenger jet takes off from Paris.

By World Israel News Staff

A Paris air traffic controller harassed El Al pilots over the radio this week, just days after vandals targeted the Israeli national carrier’s offices in the French capital.

On Monday night, an air traffic controller at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris shouted “Free Palestine” over the radio at the pilots of a departing El Al flight.

The radio transmission to the El Al flight took place 12 minutes after the aircraft had taken off from the airport.

A day later, El Al issued a statement condemning the air traffic controller.

“El Al views the incident that took place last night, in which a French air traffic controller addressed one of its pilots in an unprofessional and inappropriate manner, with the utmost seriousness,” the company said.

El Al said that it has notified Israeli air travel regulators, asking that a complaint be filed with French authorities.

“We are addressing the matter with Israeli authorities, who are in contact with their French counterparts.”

“El Al will continue flying around the world with the Israeli flag on its aircraft tails with pride, while upholding professionalism and ensuring the safety and security of its passengers and crews.”

The incident comes less than a week after anti-Israel vandals defaced the Paris offices of Israeli airline El Al, scrawling messages including “Free Palestine” and “genocide airline” on the building’s exterior.

The vandals also smeared red paint on the outside of the building, and wrote anti-Israel slogans in Arabic.

The two incidents come amid elevated diplomatic tensions between Jerusalem and Paris, after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognize unilateral Palestinian statehood at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly session next month.

Israeli media outlets reported Tuesday that France has quietly refused to grant visas to Israeli security officers working on behalf of El Al, forcing them to either leave France or to work illegally in the country.

In the past, El Al security staffers had been granted visas via the Israeli embassy in Paris, as they were classified as ITAN workers – Israeli citizens working on behalf of diplomatic missions abroad.