Ted Cruz accuses Obama of launching 'economic boycott on Israel'
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday suggested President Obama was deliberately punishing Israel via a Federal Aviation Administration ban on flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Tourism nets Israel $11 billion, Cruz wrote in a press release, so a blanket flight ban "may well represent a crippling blow to a key economic sector." Ergo, "The facts suggest that President Obama has just used a federal regulatory agency to launch an economic boycott on Israel, in order to try to force our ally to comply with his foreign-policy demands."
The FAA has said it imposed the travel ban for security reasons given Israel's ongoing military campaign and the reports of a rocket attack near Tel Aviv's airport on Tuesday. The ban came after major U.S. and international airlines already announced they would not fly to Tel Aviv for the same reasons.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cruz's press release came out the day after a Weekly Standard article made the same claim that the travel ban was perhaps aimed at cowing Israel.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
'Will growth slow, or is the economy about to fall off a cliff?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Senate passes FAA bill with new consumer protections
Speed Read The legislation will require airlines to refund customers for flight delays
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pledged pro-oil policy to CEOs, asked for $1B
Speed Read The former president promised to reverse Biden's environmental regulations if elected
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu vows to 'stand alone' if Biden halts arms
Speed Read The Israeli prime minister responds to President Biden's threat over withholding US weapons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Why would anyone look to the United States as a model?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Is the death penalty racist? Of course it is.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
US pauses Israel bomb shipment amid Rafah rift
Speed Read The Biden administration has concerns about Israel launching a full-scale assault on Rafah
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel attacks Rafah as Hamas offers cease-fire
Speed Read Israeli forces have seized a Rafah border crossing
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Climate studies are increasingly becoming politicized'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Israel warns 100k Gazans to evacuate Rafah
Speed Read The IDF has threatened to operate with "extreme force"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A financial windfall for Iranian terrorism'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published