Skip to main content

Palestinians denied access to airport

Israeli reports ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit last week claimed Palestinians had been promised access to Ramon airport.
A partial view of the new international Ramon Airport, north of Eilat, Israel, Jan. 21, 2019.

The leading Palestinian official in charge of relations with the Israelis said that press reports in Israel about an offer to allow Palestinians to use an Israeli airport are untrue.

Hussein Sheikh, secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee and head of the Civil Affairs Ministry, said that no one made the offer. Israel’s Makan Public Service radio claimed that Defense Minister Benny Gantz had offered to allow Palestinians to use Ramon airport near Eilat on the condition that Palestinians withdraw their charge of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. In an answer to a question by Al-Monitor about the offer that Gantz reportedly made, Sheikh gave a short but clear answer: “Not true. Nothing was offered.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.