Amid Israeli Pilots’ Outcry, Transportation Minister Cancels ‘Closed Skies’ Over Supermodel Bar Refaeli’s Wedding
by Ruthie Blum
Israel’s transportation minister overturned a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) decision to restrict the air space over the Carmel Forest spa resort in Haifa for the duration of the upcoming wedding of supermodel Bar Refaeli to businessman Adi Ezra, Israel’s Channel 2 reported on Sunday.
The reversal from Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz came on the heels of an outcry on the part of Israeli pilots and the public. This followed the release of a CAA directive, announcing that pilots would be forbidden from flying within four kilometers of, and below 3,000 feet above, the wedding venue from 5 p.m. Thursday, September 24 until 2 a.m. Friday, September 25. The directive further stated that anyone violating it would risk losing his pilot’s license.
Ahead of the much-touted nuptials, the internationally renowned blonde beauty — famous for her spreads in many magazines, including Sports Illustrated; for her hosting the popular TV show, “X-Factor Israel;” and for her previous romance with mega-movie-star Leonardo DiCaprio – seemed to have forgotten she was not in Hollywood, where such policies about air space are commonplace among celebrities.
Because she had hired drones, helicopters and a hot air balloon for the big day, which has led the gossip columns for weeks, Refaeli was granted permission to prevent private aviators and potential paparazzi from “clouding” her skies.
Ordering the CAA to cancel the directive, Katz said, “The skies belong to all of Israel’s citizens, and this event cannot take precedence over others. Equality and the appearance of such must be preserved with regard to the granting of flight permits.”
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