The Palestinian Authority advised Palestinians not to take advantage of Israeli concessions allowing them to travel through Ramon International Airport in southern Israel, arguing that they should have their own airport.
“Should the occupation want to ease up for the Palestinians, let them open Jerusalem [International] Airport,” said Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, referring to the now-defunct Qalandia Airport in Judea and Samaria, reported Reuters.
When asked about a charter flight taking Palestinian passengers to Cyprus via Ramon earlier this week, Moussa Rahal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Transport, stated: “National duty compels us not to travel through Ramon Airport; we advise them not to go there.”
The pilot program has been in the works for months. Palestinians living in the West Bank typically travel to Jordan to catch international flights, as they need special permission to travel via Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport.
