Panic in the skies
Terror threats against Western air travellers could garner support for Israel as well
When examining historic processes in hindsight, one can usually point to a specific incident that people failed to notice, but that in hindsight gains significance.
For the past two weeks of summer, while the whole of Europe is taking its vacation, there have been clear signs of panic in the air. Could this be such a point in case?
Several days ago, on a flight from London to Washington, a woman took out a small container of hand cream from her purse. She was immediately attacked by a group of stewards, who tied her hands and declared an emergency situation. The plane made an emergency landing in Boston and complaints by passengers, enraged family members and airline employees went unheeded.
Monday, a group of British passengers staged a revolt on their flight home from a holiday in Spain, and refused to allow the plane to take off because of "two Middle Eastern-looking passengers speaking in what sounded like Arabic and who couldn't stop looking at their watches." The airline was forced to remove the men from the aircraft causing a significant delay.
Tight security measures
The lives of those seeking to exercise one of the most fundamental rights and benefits of Western citizenship – free air movement - have become unbearable. Airports are imposing more and more security measures and more meticulous baggage checking following the discovery of a hellish plot to blow up several planes in mid-air while on route from Britain to the United States.
When London police revealed the "martyrdom videos" made by the suspects who allegedly planned to commit suicide on the planes, there was a clear sense that mass slaughter had been prevented at the last minute.
Entertaining thoughts of impending danger
It is common knowledge that evil snakes are raising their heads and reaching for Europe and North America from many parts of the world. However, at the same time there is growing acknowledgement that we are dealing with a frustrating, Sisyphean struggle that doesn't guarantee complete victory.
Alongside the thoughts of beautiful beaches and dry martinis, just about every person who boards a flight today on the way to Hawaii or elsewhere, entertains thoughts of impending danger.
Most Westerners have been spoiled for at least 30 years with relative wealth, peace and quiet alongside the proliferation of leisure time culture. In recent years, cheap flights (often costing no more than a few dozen dollars) opened the skies to just about everyone, almost all of the time.
Heavy cloud hovering over air pasengers
These people now feel that a heavy cloud is hanging over their lives. Will this development eventually translate into a worldwide effort to fight terror, instead of a mostly-American battle, as is currently the case? The answer to this question is likely to be positive.
The relatively widespread support Israel enjoyed during the initial phases of its operations against Hizbullah in Lebanon is now also making the rounds at the long lines at airports throughout the Western world.
