National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned anti-judicial reform protestors against blocking access to Ben Gurion Airport during their ‘Day of Disruption’ tomorrow.
“I’m in favor of demonstrations and freedom of expression, but Ben Gurion Airport and the country’s main transportation arteries are out of bounds. There are people who need to get to the hospitals, and that’s a matter of life and death,” Ben-Gvir said Wednesday afternoon.
“Today I am going to hold a situational assessment with the police and the command staff and make it clear unequivocally that my directive is to give as much leeway for freedom of expression as possible, but not at Ben Gurion Airport.” You have to remember that in the end we are the same people. I call on the opposition to behave responsibly. Shout and demonstrate, but leave the airport and public transportation arteries out of the protests,” he added.
Protestors are planning to block access to Ben Gurion Airport tomorrow while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departs for a diplomatic visit to Italy. The prime minister is likely to arrive at the airport by helicopter so as not to be blocked by the protestors.
Tens of thousands of Israeli citizens and tourists may be prevented from getting to the airport for their flights due to the protests.
Earlier, Transportation Minister Miri Regev visited the Israel Airports Authority and ordered it to prepare for the protests tomorrow and to be ready to assist passengers who are prevented from leaving the country by the protestors.
“The airport is the face of the State of Israel, and the first experience that the citizen and tourist encounters upon entering the country. He should receive the best service, and everything must be done to make this experience the best,” said Regev.
The Airports Authority said: “The authority will do everything possible to allow those flying tomorrow to fly at the time set for their flight and to maintain the operational continuity of Ben Gurion Airport. The authority recommends that those flying arrive early at the airport and the public is advised to arrive by Israel Railways” and not by car.
Regev said that additional train service to the airport would be provided tomorrow if necessary.
The protests have already changed the schedule of one important diplomatic visit. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who was expected to arrive in Israel today, will instead arrive tomorrow for meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
In light of the protests, the meetings will be held within Ben Gurion Airport, and Austin is not expected to leave the airport’s premises at all.
