Australian Jews seek reassurance on Qantas-Emirates deal

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Last edited Mon Apr 1, 2013, 01:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Cross-posted in the Jewish group. Note that the Jewish group is a safe haven, so a head's up to be respectful if posting in there
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1223617

Sydney – A new partnership between Australia's national airline Qantas and Emirates Airlines is causing turbulence in the company's relations with the Jewish community, prompted by fears for the safety of Jews and Israelis who purchase seats on the "Flying Kangaroo."

The 10-year deal, announced in September, will mean Dubai will now replace Singapore as the major hub and layover spot for customers flying to and from Europe.

As part of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai prohibits Israeli passport holders from entering its territory. The UAE and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations.

Dr. Danny Lamm, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and his chief executive, Peter Wertheim, are scheduled to meet Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce in Sydney on Wednesday amid ongoing concerns about the partnership.

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-features/australian-jews-seek-reassurance-on-qantas-emirates-deal.premium-1.477375

Since then, there's been consultation and reassurances from QANTAS, but I don't trust a word that comes out of Alan Joyce's mouth. If even one passenger gets singled out for different treatment because they're Jewish, then that's one passenger too many, imo. This got me to wondering about the Arab League boycott of Israel, specifically when it comes to Jews or Israelis who want to travel to any of those countries. A DUer I've grown to respect over time has told me they know that Saudi Arabia at least bars Jews from entering the country, and I'm now thinking that the Arab League boycott of Israel, while not only being stubborn and misguided, might at times veer into the ugly territory of antisemitism.

Here's a more recent article about the QANTAS/Dubai issue

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/dont-kiss-dont-swear-rules-of-a-dubai-stopover-20130326-2grsc.html

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I'm a bit wary of posting about the political aspect of the boycott here, as I/P is at the root of it, but I'm going to focus on Israel and the Arab states participating in the boycott, and would appreciate it doesn't get turned into I/P.

The Arab League boycott seems to me to be something that should have been a short-term thing if anything. I don't think trying to isolate Israel is effective or very fair. And it's certainly not fair to Israeli citizens who travel. I think a better way to do it would be to normalise relations with Israel instead of doing the stubborn head in the sand thing and going 'la la la. I don't recognise you!'. It'd go a ways toward getting rid of uncertainty and fear, though as with mostly everything in that part of the world, no-one ever wants to be the ones who take the first step.