Disgrace: Civil servants to fly Alitalia
The government is conveying a clear message: We have lost interest in Israeli made products - we'll fly Alitalia to save a few shekels
A few days ago I rubbed my eyes in disbelief at the sight of an item in the financial section of the newspaper; it was entitled "The end of El Al's monopoly." The article mentioned the agreement signed between the Italian airline Alitalia, noting that Israel's civil servants would from now on fly Alitalia when on duty.
The joint project with the foreign company (we pay, they fly us), will save according to finance ministry calculations some NIS 10 million a year. It will also entitle civil servants to various perks, including Italian speaking cabin attendants and pilots who had not graduated the Israeli air force - but who are much more charming.
El Al (Photo: Giltech)
So who will suffer the consequences? In the short term it will be El Al, who has been flying civil servants since its establishment, and whose right was stripped legally. In the long term this decision will be detrimental to us all.
Israel's punching bag
In recent years, El Al has become, and rightfully so, the national punching bag. We mocked it for its war against open skies, its insistence on bearing the Israeli flag (a right not bestowed on Israir or Arkia) despite El Al no longer being the national carrier, the CEO's outrageous salary, the infamous Israeli service and the terrible food.
All this led to a very disappointed public and raised the level of bitterness and anger.
I, who often struck a blow at El Al via my keyboard, happily ate my hat recently. With the beginning of the war in the north and up to the last rocket, El Al responsibly conducted itself as a national carrier.
In contrast to other airlines, it didn’t change its flight schedule (although passenger lists declined drastically), and didn’t hesitate to assist Israeli passengers who wished to cancel their flights without charging cancellation fees or asking irrelevant questions. It goes without saying that several of its pilots were forced to leave the comfortable cockpit, don their uniforms and go to battle.
This may seem like a trivial matter, but it is not. El Al 2006 is a privately owned company, and the rules of open skies apply to El Al as well. However, beyond its history and national obligations, it decided to contribute to the war effort. And then at the worst possible, cynical and humiliating time – this item appeared in the newspaper.
While El Al is still licking its wounds (millions of dollars and many lost flight hours) and while we are embracing the north and assisting our tourists, the Israeli government has announced that the largest airline in Israel, the one that employs thousands has decided to finance the Italian airline from the Israeli tax payer's pocket.
What a farce
Had a similar situation occurred elsewhere, I would have said it was a sick government. There's no need to be a great economist to raise an eyebrow over this farce.
Just as the IDF is obliged to manufacture its uniforms in Mitzpe Ramon and not in China, and chocolates distributed by civil workers overseas must be Israeli made, that's how the Israel government must continue supporting Israeli airlines and El Al in particular.
The seasoned acquisition personnel at the ministry of finance could have bargained with El Al representatives over the cost of the deal and by so doing saved millions of shekels.
Israeli government has 'lost its self respect'
Israel's government has lost its self respect and is conveying a clear message – we have lost interest in Israeli made products and just because we want to save a few shekels we turned to the Italians.
The fact that these government savings will in the long term cause economic damage and harm the reputation of the local company whose salaries are paid in shekels, and whose management has recently demonstrated national responsibility - doesn't mean an iota to the treasury.
Perhaps in the next war, when the foreign minister is on his way to another attempt to advance peace, he will wait at Ben Gurion Airport for the Italian aircraft that will never come - because it is too dangerous. Perhaps then, the accountant general will understand that sometimes there are assets that not worth giving up.
And what's next? It was recently publicized that the north is expected to host thousands of civil servants. Perhaps the acquisition manager should also launch a bid for the guest houses, or perhaps he'll suffice with a good deal that would carry civil servants (in a foreign carrier) to a lovely (and cheaper) holiday in Turkey.
