Top > Business > 2006 > September > 2006-09-06

Arab Plane Breaks Blockade, Lands In Beirut

Despite the ongoing air and sea embargo of Lebanon being conducted by Israel, Arab national airline Qatar Airways reportedly landed a plane at Beirut`s Rafik Hariri International Airport on Monday afternoon. Jerusalem had originally demanded that all flights into and out of the Lebanese capital be routed through the Jordanian capital of Amman, but relented when Qatar Airways remained determine to fly directly from the small Arab sheikhdom.

Lebanon`s Transport Minister Mohammed Safadi told reporters over the weekend that his government was favorable to opening up the airport to planes willing to ignore the sea and air blockade in place since July 13, the first day of Israeli bombings of the country in response to a series of attacks and kidnappings launched by the Hizballah terorist group, which if not receiving outright support from Beirut has received tacit approval in the government`s deliberate decision to not enforce UN Security Council resolutions.

Since the cessation of large-scale hostilities in August, Lebanon`s flagship airline Middle East Airlines (MEA) and Royal Jordanian Airlines have resumed flights to and from Lebanon`s capital, stopping as per Israeli demands in Amman before continuing on their journey. In addition to comments by the Lebanese transport minister, the speaker of Lebanon`s parliament has urged Arab nations to send boats and planes in order to show the world the blockade would not continue - despite Israeli objections.