The Case for a Boycott of Delta Airlines (UPDATED)
A day ago, after a story in USA Today that has since been taken off its website, the Jewish community in the United States was enraged to evidently learn that Delta Airlines, which made Saudi Arabian Airlines one of its partner airlines, would not let Jewish passengers fly on Delta to Saudi Arabia.
As the newspaper noted, Delta immediately offered its own explanation written by Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter. His statement proclaimed that “Delta does not discriminate,” but that questions had been raised “about whether Saudi Arabian Airlines’ membership in SkyTeam means Delta is adopting any type of policies that could present barriers to travel for some passengers, including Jewish customers.” Banstetter then noted that all restrictions to admission to any country are set by that country’s authorities, not by any airline, and that they apply to anyone entering the country in question, regardless of how they come. Any airline, he noted, has to comply by law with the constraints imposed upon it by a country, including Saudi Arabia.
Religion News Service noted that “Saudi Arabia bans anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport from entering the country, even in transit. Many Jews believe the kingdom has also withheld visas from travelers with Jewish-sounding names.” The USA Today story notes that one rabbi informed them that many Jewish professionals engaged in business with the Saudis do go there regularly. (This is certainly true. I myself know many Jewish journalists and writers who have gone to Saudi Arabia on trips approved by the Saudi regime.)
Is Delta therefore off the hook? Not according to Rabbi Jason Miller, who aptly points out that the real issue is that Delta has added Saudi Arabian Airlines to its Sky Team Alliance of partner airlines — a step that obviously it did not have to take. This action means, in effect, that Jews who seek to fly there will in fact be taken off the plane. Delta says that if it did bring someone with an Israeli stamp in his or her passport or a Jewish American to Saudi Arabia on one of its flights, it could be fined a stiff penalty.
As Rabbi Miller correctly writes:
The issue here is one of principle. Delta isn’t being forced to include Saudi Arabian Airlines into its Sky Team Alliance. In fact, Delta could stand on principle and refuse to include Saudi Arabian Airlines based on its discriminatory policy. No, it’s not Delta’s fault that the Saudi government is anti-Semitic, but it doesn’t have to go along with it. It’s as if the Saudis are telling Delta that when it comes to Jewish passengers it’s name should become an acronym: “Don’t Even Let Them Aboard.”
All airlines tell passengers when they depart: “You have a choice, and we thank you for flying” United, or American, or Delta. In some major cities that are hubs, like Atlanta or now evidently Michigan, it’s hard not to get a flight other than Delta. So, as long as Delta allows an airline into its partnership alliance that does discriminate — even though Delta itself does not — I would suggest an appropriate measure.
Until Delta drops Saudi Arabian Airlines from its roster of partners, let’s circulate a pledge that we will not fly Delta and will always seek other airlines first before going on Delta. And for those who have Delta cards for point accumulation, a nice letter to their management informing them of this would create a great deal of pressure for them to drop Saudi Arabian Airlines as a partner.
Update: 2:30 pm est
Our friends at National Review Online have received a further clarification, that you can read about here. They report that many other airlines have codeshare arrangements with Saudi Arabian Airlines. Moreover, Delta has now responded that it has only what it calls “a standard industry interline agreement,” which means that passengers can book tickets on multiple carriers. It is evidently similar to the arrangement of Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United, all of which have partners that fly to Saudi Arabia.
So, a boycott of Delta will not do the job. Delta got the bad publicity, but clearly, most of our major airlines have the same policy and alliances with the Saudi airline as some form of partner. Perhaps all of our airlines should reevaluate any kind of such alliance. Hasn’t the coddling of the Saudis gone on far too long?
So you’ll also be calling for a similar boycott of KLM, British Airways, Air France, Air Canada, KLM, Singapore Air, Cathay Pacific, and many other Western carriers who have the exact same policy, right? I’ve been wondering about this “news” ever since Drudge featured it. There is no change whatsoever to the vile policies of the satanic kingdom of Saudi Arabia , and virtually every business which deals with this verminous, venomous Muslim society must comply with its evil Sharia fanaticism.
Further, and I’ve said it before – when Jews act as if they are the only targets of the genocidal hatred of Muslims, they help create the myth that Jihad is largely a Jew against Muslim — Muslim against Jew affair. The article clearly states that bibles will be confiscated, and yet Radosh only speaks of anti-Semitic aspects of the ugliness. The seeming need to depict this strictly in terms of Jewish victimology is really misguided. Depicting Islamic Jihad as primarily an anti-Semitic affair is one reason the micro issue of the “Palestinian” has assumed center stage in the world’s consciousness while the macro issue of Islamic World War (aka Jihad) has metastasized to every corner of the globe. Jews would do a far better job, in my opinion, of taking every opportunity to stress that Islam is a genocidal ideology with everyone in it’s crosshairs. Why would you want to own this war?
“Islam is a genocidal ideology with everyone in it’s crosshairs.”
Except that the pusillanimous, putrid followers of islamic witchcraft don’t publicly call for the extermination of others outright and without penalty.
@1 AKW
I’m not good at text graphics; perhaps others can develop the idea?
………………………..other
………………..other………other
………………………..ISLAM
………………..other………other
………………………..other
Good point.
Very well said Morton. you are so right about it not just being a Jew muslem thing. it’s a muslem every one else thing and the sooner the rest of the world wakes up and realise’s this the better.Milosovick and those other people in Bosnia had the right idea and then the IDIOTS went to the rescue of the muslems. we see how that has worked,
How right you are!
I have been blogging about this for years, and before that, I ran a counterjihad/pro-Serb mailing list.
It has taken over a decade to get people to listen, and even now, the topic is shunned by the mainstream media.
My husband and I tried to warn everybody we could. First the Serbs, then the Jews. (Yes, I’m a Serbian-American and an Orthodox Christian with some Jewish relatives.) Saying “I told you so” after it is too late may be a temptation to the sin of despair, but sometimes it has to be said.
Thank you for telling the truth.
You’re totally correct, Morton. There needs to be a clear message that Islam is anti-everything non-Islamic, rather than simply anti-Semitic. Of course there’s a greater malevolence toward Jews by Muslims, when you think of Israel’s Sobel family, for example, but the Saudis shred Bibles and dispose of all non-Islamic articles of faith at the airport, while being dangerously intolerant of anyone doing the same to their precious koran. It’s time the west wakes up, but I fear they are tgoo afraid of the waking nightmare to leave their dreams of safety.
Morton, there is no “myth” in this. Yes, Islam targets any non-muslim group. However, their religion specifically instructs followers to kill Jews. The killing of Jews is repeatedly commanded and instructed, and unless they kill off all the Jews, their “Judgement Day” cannot come. Islam specifically targets the Jews for extinction. It is in the Q’uran, in numerous of places. A few examples:
Qur’an 4:47
“O you People of the Book to whom the Scripture has been given, believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming and verifying what was possessed by you, before We destroy your faces beyond all recognition, turning you on your backs, and curse you as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers, for the decision of Allah Must be executed.”
Qur’an 4:160
“For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) in that they hindered many from Allah’s Way, that they took usury, though they were forbidden, and that they devoured men’s wealth on false pretenses, We have prepared for those among them who reject [Islamic] Faith a painful doom.”
Qur’an 2:64
“But you [Jews] went back on your word and were lost losers. So become apes, despised and hated. We made an example out of you.”
Ishaq:240
“The Jews are a nation of liars…. The Jews are a treacherous, lying, and evil people.”
Qur’an 33:26
“Allah made the Jews leave their homes by terrorizing them so that you killed some and made many captive. And He made you inherit their lands, their homes, and their wealth. He gave you a country you had not traversed before.”
Ishaq:250
“The bestial transformation occurred when Allah turned Jews into apes, despised.”
Qur’an 2:96
“We will not remove a Jew from the punishment. They know the shameful thing that awaits them.”
Qur’an 4:55
“Sufficient for the Jew is the Flaming Fire!”
Bukhari:V4B52N176
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘You Muslims will fight the Jews till some of them hide behind stones. The stones will betray them saying, “O Abdullah (slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.”‘
Bukhari:V4B52N177
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.”‘”
If your child attends most colleges in the US, especially in California, that child is not being attacked by a Muslim for being Christian, Hindu or Buddhist. But if your child is Jewish, that child would be attacked, as Jewish students are being targeted, and attacked when possible.
Your churches are not being specifically targeted, nor are your community centers. Ours are, continually, and have been attacked on several occasions.
If you are walking on the street, the chances are, that you will not be beaten up for being a Christian, Buddhist or Hindu. But Muslims are specifically targeting Jews on the streets.
In Europe the problem has become epidemic, entire communities of Jews are no longer safe, and currently leaving their countries. They are being attacked on the streets, in kindergartens, and in Synagogues. Many have been beaten, stabbed and murdered. France, England, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, and Libya are among the nations where Jews are leaving. There are US Jews leaving, or preparing to leave, as well. Many no longer feel safe here, either.
http://frontpagemag.com/2011/01/10/the-slow-motion-exodus-of-european-jews/
Saudi Arabia did not try to bribe Gulliani with millions of dollars to say it was the Christians, Hindus, or Buddhists at fault for 9-11, but he did try to bribe Gullianai into saying it was the Jews.
The massive Arab endowments given to Harvard, Yale, Princeton and many other colleges did not come with the condition to deny Christians, Buddhists, Hindus or other religions entry. They specifically attempted to prevent Jews from attending.
The bibles and religious articles of all groups may be confiscated, but the Christian and others may land. The Jew may not, and will be removed from the plane.
If Radosh speaks in terms of “Jewish victimology”, it is because he is aware of all of the above, as well as and other things that have, and are taking place. This is only one more example, but one that the media could not censor. It was too high profile. Jews and caring non- Jews made it visible.
The MSM has been intentionally censoring the numerous and growing attacks on Jews. Most non- Jews do not know what is actually going on. For Jews, this is another frightening chapter of history unfolding, and much too highly reminiscent of Hitler’s Germany, for comfort.
In light of all that has happened to the Jewish people, and all that is happening now, I find the term “Jewish Victimology” highly offensive and insensitive.
I hope you realize that Delta has had a partnership with El Al for years, and serves Tel Aviv from certain American airports not served by El Al, such a Newark and Atlanta.
So? Does El Al discriminate against anybody? No.
We should be flying El Al whenever it is practical to do so.
We should also be buying Israeli goods and services whenever we can. Not only to support the Jewish people and the State of Israel, but because they generally are of superior quality.
I think Ron has a point. This was unnecessary on Delta’s part. (I might say, I avoid flying Delta for another reason: Lousy service.) While were at it, there are certain Scotch whiskys that need to boycotted as well. They’re in areas of Scotland that are boycotting Israeli products and/or have removed books by Israeli authors from their libraries. (They can say they’re being even-handed because they don’t have any books by Arabs [because Arabs don't write books
]).
“they don’t have any books by Arabs..”
Well Jack…they DO have ONE, don’t they? The only one written by an Arab who stole if from the Jews..
Abdul Kareema Wheat – whoops – forgot that one. That actually might have a second – a badly plagiarized one in German.
Whoops…..BZ….gotcha!
Thanks.
Boycott everybody you want. What I’m working out is who do we boycott until somebody does something about George Soros? He and his crew are openly destroying America faster that OBL could even dream about. He is like somebody who just stepped out of the pages of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion (a propagandistic fiction that seems to have become prophetic).
Jacobite – George Soros is a caricature of a Jew. In his teens he assisted the Nazis in rounding up Jews; and while as a teen he might be foregiven, he has as far I know, ever said he is sorry. (Think of all the Jews that died at his hands because of his actions.) Also he has funded the anti-Jewish, anti-Israeli J Street group. No. He is not out of the antisemitic Protocols of the Elders of Zion, he is out of the deepest circle of Dante’s Hell.
So I have to ask…how is it that he’s still vertical?
Why hasn’t the Mossad or the JDL acted against this traitor?
I wonder if old George realizes that if the Nazis had won the war he would have been loaded on the last train bound for Auschwitz.
Another reason to not fly Delta, besides their cattle car “seating”.
Why would anyone even want to go to any of the koranimal countries?
The airlines don’t care one bit about passengers. If they did they would object to the TSA molesting women and children in the security lines.
I work for Delta. I have never heard an inkling from anyone in all my activity as an employee that would suggest any hint of anti-Israel or anti-Semetic sentiments on the part of Delta.
It’s a huge airline operating 1500 or better flights per day. Sometime, somewhere, things will be said that don’t gibe with the proper public position. I just want to say Delta is a good American company and employer trying to make a corporate living taking people from points A to B.
We do care about our passengers. To say otherwise is hyperbole. TSA’s methods and procedures are entirely out of our control. TSA is an agency under the Dept. of Homeland Security. Take it up with them.
no no, you’re missing the point. this isn’t about some random anti-Semitic comment or something. this is–it would seem–about discriminating against people because of their religion. we don’t allow that in this country, and Delta doesn’t need to condone it by having an agreement with the Saudi airline.
if, however, as it now sounds, ALL airlines have similar arrangements with that airline, then they ALL need to reject the Saudis. maybe losing all their air partners would cause them to reconsider their hateful and medieval stance.
then let Delta sever their brand-spanking new relationship with Saudi Arabian Airlines – which DOES discriminate and will force Delta to as well.
Some stories stick better than others.
The one that clobbered DELTA came when they charged American Marines, returning from Iraq, for their 4th piece of luggage.
Drudge ran it. Seen by millions.
It is my understanding (could be wrong) that it as a DELTA AGENT who messed up; that this was not the doings of the airline itself.
I am not here to defend Delta. In fact, I believe Delta goes out of their way to hire annoying semi-literates to play Gate Agent for their Delta Connection personnel in Atlanta.
This ignorance and stupidity may have overflowed to the regular side that day. Delta is more to be faulted for carrying quota hiring too far than for a misunderstanding over baggage fee policy.
Yep…Delta does seem to have capitulated to the AA appointments and hiring just like in DC.
I’m sure that the NAACP, SPLC et al would shut down Delta in a heartbeat if they didn’t hire by the numbers.
Jerkson and Sharpton would beat each other to death for the right to shut them down….or pay reparations.
you don’t have to be Jewish to have an Israeli stamp in your passport, only visited Israel.
May Delta actually live by their claimed standards. They need to sever the relationship ASAP.
I was wondering abt that. Many Christians visit Israel, and I assume Muslims, too (there is a significant Israeli Arab population). Would they be banned as well?
And yes, Delta should be saying to S.A, that if you want to partner with us, here are our rules. Comply or fly elsewhere. Our morals do not stop at the bottom line, and we cannot be bought.
Problem is that Saudi’s got loads of spare cash because (1), they don’t have to bother with a large middle class utilising the wealth and (2), the elite in the West keeps it that way by refusing to allow oil production in the west to go ahead to any meaningful extent, so it has to be bought from Saudi.
But it’s all an elites club game.
Well, if it good for Saudi Arabia to ban entry to anyone with an Israeli visa stamp on their passport, then we should anyone with a Saudi stamp from entering our country. After all, didn’t all the 9/11/2001 terrorists have Saudi passports or Saudi stamps on their passports? [end sarcasm]
Duh…you don’t really expect our yellow bellied cowards in congress to shoot the bird to the saudi’s…do you?
Nah…that’d dry up most of their “contributions”….errr…blackmail.
You know, whether it is “Hey, we don’t make the rules, the Saudis do.” or “Hey, we don’t make the rules, the TSA does.” or any other such blame-someone-else excuse made by companies or entities who have CHOSEN to serve those rule-making bigots and abusers, I am reminded of one famous excuse made for similar enabling/collaborative behavior:
“We were just following orders.”
It didn’t fly at Nuremberg, and it won’t “fly” now.
“Jewish American”. Good heavens, man! All you are missing is the hyphen. I don’t know about other American Jews, but I, for one, find no need to think of myself as anything else but American. Leave the Balkanization to the likes of the New York Times and the Office of Economic Opportunity.
the friendly grizzly – spot-on!!
Now I have two reasons to avoid Delta and only one of them is that it is a truly crappy airline.
Why is it news that the Saudis don’t want jews in their country? In 1978, we were prohibited from even landing in the kingdom if we had Levis.
Look, folks, the current prejudice rules are: It’s o.k. to hate Jews and Christians and discriminate against them, but leave the muslims alone.
Hasn’t Obama taught you ANYTHING?
Is it possible this news was put out by government-press, trying to hurt Delta? Recently the government-union bested by Delta employees in voting down unions. Do you believe that Delta was the only airline charging military for extra baggage? The move is on to cause harm to Delta, this is what our community organizer and unions do!
Very good points! I wouldn’t put it past the Obama regime’s fascists to instigate dirty tricks against companies that don’t get with his socialist program.
“Hasn’t the coddling of the Saudis gone on far too long?”
Absolutely! Let’s boycott them and their oil! … Oops, can’t do that.
1. Delta does NOT have, nor is it seeking, a “code share” with Saudi Arabian airlines. It is seeking an “inter airline agreement”, which is much different. Your basic facts are incorrect.
2. Delta (or American, or United, or whomever) does not require an “entry visa” as a condition for flight; however, many COUNTRIES do, and the airline is required to make sure their passengers have them or face stiff fines. This is true of Russia, this is true of Saudi Arabia; even more liberal countries (Europe, anyone? Central America? Are they all racist as well?) require foreigners to have a passport in their possession. Seriously, have you NEVER flown out of the US before? Did you think airlines just check that stuff for your personal inconvenience?
Frankly, anyone who reads USA Today and considers it a reliable news source for anything other than the latest movie and/or consumer item reviews probably would believe just about anything. It’s not called “America’s High School Newspaper” or “McPaper” for nothing.
The world is full of people just trying to find a reason to be offended; Jews and Christians in America, especially. I used to be a subscriber to PJTV, but the rampant stupidity contained in editorials just like this one make me embarrassed to admit it.
“Jews and Christians in America, especially.”
What a load of bovine excrement. If anything…or anybody that are perpetual…PERPETUAL whiners and victimoligists……as an art form…it’s muslims.
Get the sand out of your crack, OK?
I run a small mail-order business, and for years we have refused to ship to any nation that refuses to admit people with an Israeli stamp in their passport — out of solidarity with Israel. But it also is true, the nations which refuse such an Israeli stamp, tend to have a lot more crooks and cheaters using bad credit cards, with scams and other things which make them bad customers for merchants. How can one be honest in life, if at the core of one’s being is the attitude of the “superman”, viewing all others with contempt?
Yes, the U.S. coddling of the Saudis has gone on too long. Was it unfair of me to pick on Delta Airlines when other airlines have code share agreements with Saudi Arabian Airlines (and U.S. businesses and the U.S. government do business there?). No. Because Delta Airlines was the one that issued a press release dated January 10, 2011 welcoming SAA into the SkyTeam Alliance. http://blog.rabbijason.com/2011/06/delta-adopts-saudi-airlines-no-jew.html
Ah, so many employees defending the Zyklon B company. Brings back many memories.
These “alliances” will continue as long as they accrue as net positives to the partner airlines bottom line.
I’m a staunch supporter of Israel and not a friend of the fundamental Islamists around the world, especially Saudi Arabia but have to wonder, what typical Jewish citizen would intentionally seek passage to Saudi Arabia or any other predominantly Muslim nation?
O.K., it’s the principle of the thing, I get it but this seems to be an unadvertised business practice long prevalent in the passenger airline industry, so is it much ado about nothing or a clarion call for all non fundamentalist Muslim, foreign and domestic airlines to stop a long tolerated anti-Semitic policy?
Until the West wakes up, acknowledges, and condemns fundamental, political Islam, everywhere it’s encountered, it is doomed to submit and accept these iniquities exactly as directed, or else. Is Delta the canary in the coal mine or will this issue, like so many others of a similar vein, fade into politically correct obscurity. If past performance is any indicator, I suspect the latter.
“what typical Jewish citizen would intentionally seek passage to Saudi Arabia or any other predominantly Muslim nation?”
Especially since most Israeli’s know that they’re going to radioactive parking lots in a short time.
At the same time Delta signed their code share alliance to Saudi Jihad Airlines, they reduced service to Israel by suspending their direct Atlanta Tel Aviv flights, for “Economic” reasons. They probably had to do this to obtain landing rights at Mohammed Atta Memorial Airport in Riyadh
If Obama can give a french kiss to Saudi Prince why Delta can’t Why dont we boycot Obama?
Yeah, BUT: Delta is also pressuring its GOP stooges to break unions. They have a long history of throwing their corporate weight into social engineering. Anyone wishing to live in this century or the previous one should patronize one of the many less regressive carriers.