Elected Officials, Advocates Call on DOT and Port Authority to Enforce DOT Decision Prohibiting Kuwait Airways’ Discrimination Against Israeli Citizens

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Benjamin Ryberg, (212) 339-6995

WHAT:

The Lawfare Project, New York City Council Members Lancman, Greenfield, and Maisel, and others will call on the Port Authority and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws and the anti-discrimination provisions of Kuwait Airways’ lease at JFK Airport to prevent the airline from continuing to refuse to sell tickets to Israeli citizens. DOT has already determined that this policy violates federal law, and its practice violates the airline’s lease with the Port Authority. The Council Members and advocates will publicly release a letter to DOT and the Port Authority requesting enforcement action or termination of Kuwait Airways’ lease and ability to fly out of JFK Airport.

WHO:

  • Council Members Rory I. Lancman, David Greenfield, Alan Maisel
  • Malcolm Hoenlein – Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
  • Professor Richard B. Stone – Former Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
  • Jeffrey A. Moerdler – Former Commissioner, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
  • Jeffrey Lovitky – Attorney at Law, counsel for complainant in action against DOT
  • Brooke Goldstein – Director, The Lawfare Project

WHERE:

City Hall Steps (City Hall Park, New York, NY 10007)

WHEN:

Wednesday, November 4, 2015 @ 12:00PM ET

STATEMENTS:

“I commend the Department of Transportation on reaching its just conclusion, and urge both the DOT and Port Authority to take all steps necessary to ensure that Kuwait Airways’ flagrant discrimination is not permitted in the United States.” — Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

“The Department of Transportation’s decision is a crucial step toward the elimination of unlawful discrimination in air travel and the protection of human rights. Now, it is imperative that DOT and the Port Authority staunchly enforce this decision such that Kuwait Airways ceases its deplorable conduct. All travelers within the United States should expect to be treated equally in our nation’s airports, regardless of their ethnicity or national origin.” — Brooke Goldstein, Director, The Lawfare Project

“The Arab League boycott, of which Kuwait Airways’ reprehensible practices are part and parcel, is discriminatory at its core. Like the modern-day BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, the Arab League boycott and its offshoots are expressions of bigotry. This is precisely why the U.S. Congress and state governments have enacted anti-boycott legislation to protect individuals and entities who are singled out for unequal, punitive treatment based not on what they do, but on who they are.” — Professor Richard B. Stone, Former Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

“Kuwait Airway’s action establishes an intolerable precedent for the airline industry. If an airline stated that it would not accept passengers with Mexican passports, people would justifiably claim discrimination against Hispanics. If an airline stated that it would not accept passengers with Saudi passports, people would justifiably claim discrimination against Muslim passengers. The same is true here, except that the discrimination is directed against citizens of the Jewish state. The Arab League boycott of Israel is a manifestation of religious intolerance, motivated by the Jewish nature of the State of Israel.

The illegal discrimination practiced by Kuwait Airways is inconsistent with our laws and our fundamental values as a nation. By its terms, the permit granted by the Department of Transportation to Kuwait Airways has lapsed because that airline is not in compliance with U.S. law. Therefore, the Department of Transportation must swiftly terminate all Kuwait Airways service between New York and London. Such termination is mandated by statute, and is fully consistent with Article 4 of the U.S.-Kuwait Air Transportation (“Open Skies”) Agreement.” — Jeffrey Lovitky, Attorney at Law

“The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has a long tradition of doing the right thing.  Now that the U.S. Department of Transportation has determined that Kuwait Airlines’ policy of not selling tickets on flights to London to Israeli passport holders violates United States law, we call on the Port Authority to do the right thing here too and enforce the anti-discrimination provisions of its lease with Kuwait Airlines.” – Jeffrey A. Moerdler, Former Commissioner, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

MATERIALS:

The Lawfare ProjectKuwait Airways