PA deters Palestinians from using Israel's Ramon Airport
The Palestinian Minister of Transport and Communications confirmed the imposition of measures and penalties against travelers through Israel's Ramon Airport.
GAZA STRIP — The Palestinian Ministry of Transportation has threatened to take punitive measures against Palestinians who use Ramon Airport in southern Israel for travel, with the first flight for Palestinians scheduled through the airport to Turkey before the end of August.
Palestinian Transportation Minister Assem Salem confirmed during a radio interview on Aug. 16 that he will raise some suggestions and measures that can deter Palestinians from traveling through Ramon Airport, noting that there is no contact between the Palestinian government and Israel regarding Palestinian travel through the airport.
Israel officially announced its approval on Aug. 2 to allow Palestinians from the West Bank to travel through the airport. The first flight took off on the morning of Aug. 22 from the airport toward Cyprus; it included 24 Palestinians from Bethlehem and Hebron, and the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth described it as a "historic step."
Spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Transportation Musa Rahal told Al-Monitor that his ministry has not yet approved any punitive measures against Palestinians who will travel through the airport, pointing out that these measures — which he refused to disclose — will be discussed in the upcoming Palestinian Cabinet meetings.
