"Israel" tightens security on airliners
Source: Agencies, 22-2-2008
"Israel" has ordered airlines to require passengers to return to their seats earlier prior to landing as a precaution against would-be hijackers, the Transport Ministry said Friday.
The measure follows the assassination last week of top Hizbullah commander Imad Moghnieh. The Lebanese group blamed the killing on "Israel" and has threatened revenge.
"Israel" has denied any involvement, but is taking no chances and has been beefing up security at home and abroad.
The Transport Ministry has ordered all airlines to have passengers in their seats from a distance of about 290 kilometers, or half an hour, from the "Israeli" coast, ministry spokeswoman Ora Salomon said.
Until now passengers were asked to sit and fasten their seatbelts only when the plane was about 150 kilometers, or 15 minutes, from shore.
Yediot Ahronot newspaper said "it was feared terrorists would infiltrate a plane and try to take it over only in the last stage of the flight, upon entering "Israeli" airspace.
"The closer this takeover is to "Israel's" shores, the harder it will be for the security forces to react quickly," Yediot said.
It quoted a flight expert as saying "even scrambling combat jets takes a few minutes, and the last stage of the flight is therefore the most critical."
Not only will passengers have to be in their places sooner, so will the pilots, who will be required to lock themselves in the cockpit earlier.
Since last week's death of Moghnieh in a Damascus car bombing, "Israel" has begun stepping up security at home and abroad, fearing reprisals from Hizbullah, which it battled in a devastating war in 2006.
It has already tightened security at its embassies and foreign offices of the Jewish Agency, which raises money for illegal settlements on occupied land, and warned citizens abroad to take extra precautions.
"Israel" has ordered airlines to require passengers to return to their seats earlier prior to landing as a precaution against would-be hijackers, the Transport Ministry said Friday.
The measure follows the assassination last week of top Hizbullah commander Imad Moghnieh. The Lebanese group blamed the killing on "Israel" and has threatened revenge.
"Israel" has denied any involvement, but is taking no chances and has been beefing up security at home and abroad.
The Transport Ministry has ordered all airlines to have passengers in their seats from a distance of about 290 kilometers, or half an hour, from the "Israeli" coast, ministry spokeswoman Ora Salomon said.
Until now passengers were asked to sit and fasten their seatbelts only when the plane was about 150 kilometers, or 15 minutes, from shore.
Yediot Ahronot newspaper said "it was feared terrorists would infiltrate a plane and try to take it over only in the last stage of the flight, upon entering "Israeli" airspace.
"The closer this takeover is to "Israel's" shores, the harder it will be for the security forces to react quickly," Yediot said.
It quoted a flight expert as saying "even scrambling combat jets takes a few minutes, and the last stage of the flight is therefore the most critical."
Not only will passengers have to be in their places sooner, so will the pilots, who will be required to lock themselves in the cockpit earlier.
Since last week's death of Moghnieh in a Damascus car bombing, "Israel" has begun stepping up security at home and abroad, fearing reprisals from Hizbullah, which it battled in a devastating war in 2006.
It has already tightened security at its embassies and foreign offices of the Jewish Agency, which raises money for illegal settlements on occupied land, and warned citizens abroad to take extra precautions.
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