First Official EgyptAir Flight Lands in Tel Aviv

EgyptAir greeted with the traditional water sprays shot in the air in celebration of its first flight
EgyptAir greeted with the traditional water sprays shot in the air in celebration of its first flight
TT

First Official EgyptAir Flight Lands in Tel Aviv

EgyptAir greeted with the traditional water sprays shot in the air in celebration of its first flight
EgyptAir greeted with the traditional water sprays shot in the air in celebration of its first flight

EgyptAir made its first official direct flight to Israel and landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.

The Israeli Embassy in Cairo tweeted that direct flights are "an important and welcome sign of strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries, especially economic relations."

It welcomed the resumption of flights after a long suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sunday's flight was greeted with the traditional water sprays shot in the air in celebration. The Israeli embassy published photos of the arrival on its social media accounts.

Since Israel and Egypt signed a peace deal in 1979, flights between the two countries have been offered by a subsidiary of Egyptair, Air Sinai, created exclusively for that purpose in 1982.

Egyptair will now run four flights per week into Israel under its banner, Israeli Airport Authority (IAA) spokesman Ofer Lefler told AFP.

He called Sunday's landing "a historic first."

The move comes after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited Egypt last month for talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Thousands of Israeli tourists typically visit Egypt annually, including the Sinai desert and the Red Sea resorts.

Last month, Israeli media reported that the state-owned EgyptAir would start operating direct flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv, starting in early October.

Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli announced her government lifted a daily cap of 1,200 Israelis allowed to pass through its Taba border crossing to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

"We have managed to find a way to both allow unlimited crossings and also observe coronavirus regulations,” The Times of Israel quoted the minister as saying.



Israeli Woman Killed by Hezbollah Rocket Attack, 10 Wounded

Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)
Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)
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Israeli Woman Killed by Hezbollah Rocket Attack, 10 Wounded

Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)
Israeli security inspect damages caused by debris from an intercepted missile, in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 November 2024. (EPA)

Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue services said one woman was killed and 10 wounded in a Hezbollah rocket attack that hit northern Israel.

According to paramedics who arrived at the scene, one woman was killed instantly and 10 others were injured after a rocket struck a four-story building the northern Israeli city of Shfaram.

The Israeli military said the Lebanese group Hezbollah had launched more than 100 projectiles toward Israel on Monday.

Israeli medical officials also said at least five people in central Israel have been wounded by shrapnel after a missile launched from Lebanon was intercepted.

The missile triggered air raid sirens in the Tel Aviv area before it was shot down. But authorities said shrapnel from the interception hit several people on the ground.

The Magen David Adom rescue service said it treated five people for injuries. Victims were taken to Beilinson Hospital, where one woman was reported in serious condition.

Hezbollah began launching missiles, rockets and drones at Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in its war with Israel in Gaza. Israel stepped up their attack against Hezbollah in mid-September.

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli fire — 80% of them in the past eight weeks — according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In Israel, 77 people, including 31 soldiers, have been killed by Hezbollah.