Israeli Jets Mistake Tony Blair's Plane For Hostile Aircraft

Israeli jets scramble toward Blair plane

Israeli jet planes scramble toward Tony Blair aircraft that failed to respond to signals

ARON HELLER
AP News

May 23, 2008 12:30 EST



Israeli fighter jets scrambled to intercept an unidentified aircraft suspected to be hostile this week, only to find that it carried none other than Tony Blair, a top military official said Friday.

Blair, the International Mideast peace envoy, was on a private plane from the World Economic Forum summit in Sinai, Egypt to an investment conference in the West Bank city of Bethlehem Wednesday when it penetrated Israeli airspace, the official said.

The plane failed to respond to repeated control tower radio calls demanding that it identify itself, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media.

As is common practice in such a case, the Israeli air force sent two fighter jets to intercept the aircraft. They flew above the former British prime minister's plane and quickly established contact. The pilot told them of the traveler on board, the official added.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/05/israeli_jets_scramble_toward_b.php

* had barely taken off from Israel and they were sitting down with Syria to talk peace. Maybe their neocons aren't calling the shots anymore and patience with those from outside is wearing thin.

Well, he's certainly made life more dangerous for many countries of the world - including Israel. And the UK, if it comes to that.