Bloomberg Is Flying to Israel to Protest the FAA Ban

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 18: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg pauses after speaking to the Economic Club of New York in what is being billed as his last major speech as Mayor of New York City on December 18, 2013 in New York City. Bloomberg, who is down to his final two weeks in office after 12 years of running New York, leaves behind a city that has made great gains in development, crime reduction and tourism but is still nagged by a large number of both homeless and impoverished residents. Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio has promised to focus more on low income housing and easing the strain for poor and working class New Yorkers when he takes over on January 1, 2014. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Photo: Spencer Platt/2013 Getty Images

Michael Bloomberg is steamed about the FAA’s decision earlier today to halt U.S. flights in or out of Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv after a rocket landed nearby, so he’s decided to stage a protest in a manner befitting a billionaire. “This evening I will be flying on El Al to Tel Aviv to show solidarity with the Israeli people and to demonstrate that it is safe to fly in and out of Israel,” the former New York mayor said on his website. “Ben Gurion is the best protected airport in the world and El Al flights have been regularly flying in and out of it safely. The flight restrictions are a mistake that hands Hamas an undeserved victory and should be lifted immediately. I strongly urge the FAA to reverse course and permit US airlines to fly to Israel.” Naturally, Bloomberg owns a private jet, but apparently he’s so passionate about this issue that he’s willing to fly commercial. Being the real-life Mr. Monopoly is tougher than it looks.

Bloomberg Is Flying to Israel to Protest FAA Ban