Sunday, February 14, 2010

Belgian activists dressed as El Al flight attendants disturb tourism fair in Brussels

BRUSSELS (EJP)---Six people dressed as El Al hostesses and stewards were arrested at a tourism fair in Brussels earlier this week after they handed out faked boarding passes smearing the Israeli airline.

The people, who are members of a Flemish anti-Israel NGO called ‘Vredesactie” (Peace Action), offered passers-by boarding cards for a free flight to Israel and invited them to head for the El Al and Israel Tourism Ministry stands to receive the vouchers. The activists’ uniforms were exact down to the Hebrew name tags and a number of fair attendees were reportedly fooled by the ruse.

The boarding passes were in reality pamphlets in Flemish against El Al and denouncing Belgium’s support for “the transport from Liège airport (in southern Belgium) by the airline of American weapons for the Israeli army.”

"Our company is proud to contribute this way to the effective and professional occupation of Palestine. By responding to this exceptional promotion you do support El Al", the pamphlets read.

The security service at the Israeli stand contacted police who arrested the activists.

They were released after being questioned but they face charges of disturbing peace and falsifying documents. They are due to appear before a prosecutor next week.

El Al, which has lodged a complaint, said it doesn't know where the activists obtained the uniforms or whether they were homemade.

A spokesperson for Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov was quoted in the Israeli press as saying that the protest managed to raise some disturbance at the beginning of the expo but was quickly dealt with, and the rest of the event was a success for the ministry.

The spokesperson referred to such expos as crucial to allowing “Israel to present itself to the world” and said that events like Monday’s, which happen “only from time to time,” do not overshadow the importance of such gatherings.

"We will not be deterred and we will continue to take part in similar fairs all over the world," the minister said.
http://www.ejpress.org/article/42352

Guest Comment: They Wouldn't DARE Try This With China Air, Russian Airlines, Saudi Airlines or Emirates!
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Shalom, Nurit

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