Israeli company El Al and France end their dispute

In the currently very stormy relations between France and Israel, a thorny issue has, it seems, been resolved this week between the two states. For nearly six months, work visas for security agents of the Israeli national airline El Al have not been issued or renewed . This is a response, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the way in which French diplomatic personnel were allegedly treated when traveling on an El Al flight.

Traditionally, every passenger boarding this airline must undergo a security questionnaire when checking in their baggage or issuing their boarding pass. This practice dates back to the 1970s, when hijackings and terrorist acts particularly targeted this airline. According to the Quai d'Orsay, the procedure was applied fairly "systematically" to those working at the French embassy or consulate in Israel. Hence the retaliatory measures by the French authorities.

The grimace soup is clearly over. After a series of discussions between the Israeli embassy in France and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an agreement was reportedly reached on the basis of "each taking a step towards the other." On the Israeli side, a commitment to ensure that security screening would take place smoothly at all times. On the French side, a release of work visas. Libération was able to confirm this information from an Israeli diplomatic source. However, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite several requests, declined to comment.

Another factor should help ease this situation. Until July, many French diplomatic or consular agents traveling to Israel had no choice but to use El Al, the only airline serving Tel Aviv when most American or European carriers had stopped their flights due to the war with Gaza and then with Iran . Most European Union airlines, including Air France and its low-cost subsidiary Transavia, have resumed flights to this destination since mid-July. There should therefore be mechanically fewer French travelers with diplomatic status on El Al. The custom is to favor the national airline, Air France.

One sticking point remains, however: after the verbal message sent last week by an air traffic controller at the Athis Mons center to an El Al pilot after takeoff on a Paris-Tel Aviv flight. Instead of the traditional "good flight" before handing over to another air navigation service, the controller then rewarded the crew with a "free Palestine." He has since been suspended, pending a disciplinary procedure that is expected to last approximately three months.