El Al's wings said clipped over arms

Five European countries are refusing landing rights to aircraft from El Al that are transporting military equipment
Reuters

Five European countries are refusing landing rights to aircraft from the Israeli national carrier El Al that are transporting military equipment to Israel.

 

Reports quoted an airline official as saying the new restrictions imposed by Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal meant some incoming El Al flights carrying arms would not be able to refuel enroute, and would have to reduce their cargo load.

 

European scrutiny of Israeli weapons imports heightened during Israel's recent war against the Lebanese Hizbullah.

 

London drew criticism at home over stop-overs in a British airport by flights carrying military equipment to Israel from its U.S. ally. British media reported that those shipments included heavy ordnance to be used against Lebanese targets.

 

Some El Al planes and pilots were mobilized by the air force during the war to fly in military supplies.