Fly-In

The FAA put a temporary ban on air travel to Tel Aviv, citing security concerns, and many on the right are seeing it as a backdoor method for the Obama administration to pressure Israel into a ceasefire. Once again, somebody we wouldn't expect is taking a stand:

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg is heading to Israel Tuesday night, flying on El Al in a show of unity with the Jewish state while U.S. and European airlines are canceling flights amid deadly fighting in Gaza.

"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," Bloomberg said in a prepared statement emailed by former City Hall spokesman Marc La Vorgna shortly after 8 p.m.

"Ben Gurion is the best protected airport in the world and El Al flights have been regularly flying in and out of it safely," Bloomberg continued. "The U.S. 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." [emphasis mine]

I think I speak for a lot of people when I ask: What the hell is up with this guy? After presiding over a notoriously "progressive" nanny-state administration in New York City, he's suddenly become Mr Liberty. First he attacks the Leftist solidarity within modern universities, now this stunt. Is Bloomberg trying to position himself for a Republican presidential run? It's damned odd, and odd behavior in politics makes my brow furrow, because it's usually a dead canary for a hidden agenda.