An announcement earlier this week that Emirati airlines would, in a historic move, be taking part in a civilian flyover in Israel on Independence Day turned out to be premature after the UAE airlines decided on Tuesday to withdraw.
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Organized by the Israel Air Line Pilots Association, the flyover will feature planes from all of Israel's airlines: national carrier El Al, Israir, Arkia, Kal, and Ayit. This year, Emirati airlines Etihad and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi were also scheduled to take part.
Captain Maydan Bar, chairman of the IFALPA, said, "First and foremost, this is a pilots' flyover, which proves that regional cooperation is achievable, and not only as announcements. I welcome with all my heart the pilots from the Gulf states who are taking part in our peace flyover and hope for continued, even increased, cooperation."
The announcement that the Emirati companies would not be participating came out at approximately the same time as the announcement that the UAE had summoned Israel's ambassador to Abu Dhabi for a discussion about events on the Temple Mount.
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