Thanks for this article, it made me feel so good!

Sderot Media Center gives me a spark of Zionism!

Wow, Noam youre such a hero for representing Sderot and bearing that long journey to get back to the Jewish State for its birthday. Can I get in touch with you through your website? I am a cute religious girl student at Sapir and would love to drink a coffee with you sometime if you are free?

... the service provided by various Israeli institutions and authorities. But the truth is that Israel and its institutions have some wonderful qualities which should be recognized and appreciated. The Israeli can-do attitude and willingness to lend a hand when faced with disaster is one of them. El Al has displayed this attitude and this willingness during the volcano emergency. Kol hakavod indeed!

Sderot Media Center and El Al are the best!! Go Noam!

It is a touching story in deed, but please remember that the sum total of all El Al flights to all points worldwide is likely less than what most other airlines fly out of just one of their dozens if not hundreds of hubs globally, and the final destination if nearly all El Al flights and passengers is one airport - Tel Aviv, plus the government can activate and subsidize El Al in emergencies; no airline - not even El Al - did any of this out of the sheer "goodness of its heart"; if anything, thank the government of Israel and 2 points for socialism.

after beating ourselves senseless we sometimes find our black eye open just enough to see that we are an awesome people.

My experience was different. I was stuck in Paris. I had not flown El Al. They would not accept my ticket on Cyprus Airways, which I could accept. What I could not accept was the indifference of El Al at their head office in Paris and the $900.00-plus they were charging for a one way ticket home from Marseilles. It was indeed disheartening. I eventually raised the money for a $600 flight on Arkia non-stop from Paris.

And to put it into context: already on April 19th two German companies (Lufthansa and Air Berlin)have brought back more than 15,000 tourists from Germany (not only German citizens) stranded all over the world (not only Europe) with more than 50 airplanes. The number of the passangers brought back to the still closed airports in Germany on April 20 was even larger. During German air companies (and some others) started to fly already during the closure of it air space in order to bring back their stranded passangers (the German Air Control Autrhority allowed flights for pilots accepting to fly at lower altitude under sight control, El-Al resumed its flights only to the open airports in Southern Europe (Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, etc.). And didn't care about most of its passangers which were stranded in UK, France, Germany, etc. You did it from Holland to Rome you had luck and money. Most had neither. El-Al pilots (or the Israeli govmt. had not the "cojones" required to fly under the special sight-flight conditions the Germans flew Noam, your enthusiasm for the "Spark of Zionism", which I can't recognize (see the German behaviour above) gets totally mad when you try to make me believe "El Al sent 15 additional jets to transport 20,000 Israelis stuck across Europe in places including Munich, Madrid, Barcelona and Rome." Great, 20,000 in 15 airplanes! Makes 1,300 passangers per airplane. This is not Zionism only, this is the greatest wonder of modern times. And BTW: the Rome airport wasn't empty with only one company, El-Al working. Almost all flights from Rome to non-European airports on Alitalia and non-European airlines did take place :-)

Very heart warming article 100x Hurrah for Elal. My husband and me always flies to Telaviv from Rome by them. Am Israel and Elal Chaj forever

is it sour grapes or Germany Uber Alles? FYI My son works for Alitalia and my daughter in law smaller company. and YES Rome airport were paralized and chaotic no flights to US and no flights to France and Spain

Great. You were able to return to read about the Holyland arrests and the "alleged" crimes committed by public officials of every "Zionistic" stripe- secular, religious, Haredi- you name it. These wonderful Jewish public officials who violated their public trust to screw their fellow Jews with this monstrosity forever. Welcome "home"!

you ment 20th century, cause 19th century means 1801-1899, you forgot the zeplins, luftanza was founded im 1925 but not much popularity since the zeplins were more an attraction. up until 1939.

...collective, the Jewish people, to Zion or Jerusalem and its environes if you will, for over 3,000 years. Zionism in this sense has been part and parcel of Jewish civilization and one expression of connection between the People of Israel (the Jewish people) and the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). In the 19th century Zionism has taken upon itself an added meaning: it became the non-violent (not pacifist, mind you!) national liberation movement of the Jewish movement. Its goal, the re-constitution of Jewish sovereignty in the Jewish historic homeland and the ingathering of Jews from around the world to Israel. Happily, we can report: Zionism has succeeded in most of the tasks it has taken upon itself.

“Happily, we can report: Zionism has succeeded in most of the tasks it has taken upon itself.’ Except of course in regard to peace, safety and security for Jews living in israel. Except of course in regard to sovereignty which the american own . Except of course in regard to international recognition and respect among our peers . Except of course in regard to social cohesion among Israeli society . Except of course in regard to fundamental And basic human rights of others . Zioniosm is nothing to be proud off.

Dear Iva, keep it real, keep it true, and keep it nationalism or racism free :-) !!! 1. I am Israeli, thus not a "German(y) Ueber Alles", but a Zionist. A true one, not the sort that perveted the dream and its reality 2. I used to be an El-Al Security Officcer based at the Frankfurt Airport, then I managed an international company that provided advice to all Israeli Air Industry, including El-Al and govmt. services. Therefore I can't be an "enemy". 3. Maybe your family works in airlines, maybe not. IT doesn't matter, but Rome airport was not paralyzed. Just as an example, only a quote "TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Japan Airlines Co. said Tuesday that it operated flights from Rome and Moscow to Tokyo on Monday, as it managed to find routes that avoided areas closed to commercial air traffic due to a plume of volcanic ash. Thai Airways International maintained flights to fFour destinations that have not been restricted - Bangkok-Rome, Bangkok-Madrid, Bangkok-Athens, and Bangkok-Moscow. " Oh yeah, there were US flights in Rome " United and American Airlines, were both cancelling flights in and out of Europe except to Rome and Barcelona" ... I never said that there were flights from Rome to France or Spain, I'm not so dumb to think that a flight from Rome would go to France when the French air space was closed :-)

Barbara, have you ever been to Israel? Or do you just believe all the anti-Israel propaganda? Israel, the only Jewish country, is a beautiful, modern democracy that has made more contributions to the betterment of the world than can be mentioned here. Arab-Israelis have a higher standard of living than anywhere in the Muslim world. Jews are freer and safer in Israel than anywhere in the world. In Israel you can walk down the street wearing a yarmulke or a Star of David without fear and you can live whatever kind of Jewish life you choose - ultra-religious, ultra-secular or anything in-between.

This Barbara is a typical air-headed Israel-hater, who always dwells only on the negative in Israel, often with large exaggerations. We all know her type from these talkbacks. No matter how good and how convincing your arguments are, nothing would divest her of her hatred. Think how consuming her hatred is, so that she would feel compelled to come to a Zionist website to vent it out?

first zionism is the way to israil now israil is the way to zionism so zionism lead to zionism have no target for the land but for thouhts to survive

One of the most often used lines of Arab anti-Israel propaganda is the comparaison they like to make between the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and the modern State of Israel. The Crusaders Kingdom existed less than 200 years before it was destroyed by the Muslims; so too, will be the end of Israel, claim the Arabs. Historians and Zionist academicians dismiss the Arab claim as irrelevant and devoid of any historical substance. “There is no room to compare between the Crusaders who were a religious-Christian movement, whose main purpose was the claiming of the “Holy Sepulcher” from the heretic Muslims, and Zionism, which is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people who returned to their original and natural homeland. As to closer details : http://xrl.us/berwte

The job they did in Europe may have been commendable. But they also left thousands of us stranded in Russia, despite the airports being open, with no explanations.

for advertising them in such a good light

you cultur was the one who glorify Ted Bundy and co work. the cultur of shalowness it's enough to listen to the America music and see the movies to realize that you need to be brain dead in order to like those things, seriously, the amerikan way is, and let me explain in terms that you will understans: if it's not in a comic book, or on a can of Bier, or part of the Roseball than it doesn't exist. duh.

Robert, last time I checked, planes were able to make more than one flight back and forth. It's not as if these planes just flew there once. They made several trips, and thus easily reached the 20,000 number. Stop being such a skeptic.

Barbara...You should be ashamed of yourself....Obviously you have never had anyone who went through the Holocaust so that you can appreciate Our homeland of Israel. I am NOT a Zionist, but if that would have helped save 6 million souls. Maybe you should get down on your hands and knees and kiss the ground the Zionists hel[ed established.