NBC Spotlights Bloomberg Blasting FAA For Suspending Flights to Israel; ABC, CBS Omit

Matthew Balan | July 23, 2014
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[More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.]

The 23 July 2014 edition of NBC Nightly News was the sole Big Three evening newscast to notice the criticism of the Obama administration banning U.S. airliners from traveling to Israel. Prominent politicians from both sides of the political spectrum, including Senator Ted Cruz and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg have denounced this move by the FAA, with Senator Cruz accusing the administration of using the "federal regulatory agency to launch an economic boycott on Israel."

Anchor Brian Williams zeroed in on Bloomberg's blunt critique of the travel ban, as he introduced a report from correspondent Richard Engel:

BRIAN WILLIAMS: The FAA ban on U.S. airline flights to Israel has been extended another 24 hours because of the threat of incoming rockets at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. There is talk in Israeli media and elsewhere about a possible political motive behind the FAA ban. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg flew to Tel Aviv from New York on the Israeli airline El Al to make a point about safety. When he was asked today if the FAA ban had a political motive – perhaps meant to bring Israel to peace talks by crippling tourism – he said – quote, 'It is true that the FAA ban gives Hamas a win.'

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