Modi'in News

Translated from an article that was Modi'in's "muni.il" website, dated July 22, 2009:

Next Friday, A Protest Convoy to B.G Airport!
A protest convoy of residents of Modi'in will depart next Friday, July 24, from the municipality parking lot, destination Ben Gurion Airport and the offices of the Airports Authority and the Civilian Aviation Authority.

The convoy is part of the residents' struggle against an airplane landing-approach/landing-path above the town. It will be led by the mayor Haim Bibas and other members of the city council. The requisite permits have been issued.

For many long months, the [Modi'in] municipality has conducted a long and difficult struggle against all the aviation entities in Israel, in an attempt to alter the landing-approach currently over the town.

Recall that about a month and a half ago, the high court of justice ruled in favor of 60 additional days of talks between the municipality's team of experts and representatives of the Airports Authority and the Civilian Aviation Authority.

Same Modiin URL, July 29, 2009:

350 Vehicles in Protest-Convoy Against Flight Paths
Over 350 vehicles set out last Friday on a long protest-convoy to B.G Airport, to hold a demonstration against the plan to route a landing-path of airplanes over the town of Modiin.

The convoy was organized by the headquarters of the town-residents' struggle, "Clear Skies Over Modiin," The protest was organized in cooperation with the Modiin municipality. The convoy was led by the mayor, Haim Bibas. The residents arrived in great numbers to have their voices heard against the intention to the sky over Modi’in into a path for landing planes.

In the morning hours, the convoy prepared for the journey in the parking-lot across the street from the municipality building. With police escort, and exemplary orderliness, the demonstrators headed out in a gently-paced travel toward the airport, with signs, [one of the pictures shows signs posted on the cars] and with car-headlights on and some horn-blowing.

At the airport, the convoy stopped in front of the offices of the Airport Authority. In a large demonstration, many signs were held aloft by the Modi’in residents, in a plea to cancel the plan of turning Modi’in into a flight-landing approach-path.

Mayor Haim Bibas thanked the many participants and said: "First, I wish to tell you that I love you and am proud of all of you. We are reaching a critical juncture in our months-long struggle. The presence of 350 vehicles and many town inhabitants is an important aspect of the struggle.

When I see the hundreds of residents who have come here, when I see the high level of caring and involvement, I know that nobody can ignore the residents of Modiin.

The Airport and Civilian Aviation Authorities have a responsibility to find a solution which will make it possible for planes to use the airport safely, but which will not take place over our the residents' homes but instead will be routed over the township's uninhabited areas.

We will continue to work on all levels and with all the means at our disposal against all the professional entities in the state of israel, in order to find other alternatives, including reserving the option to take legal action. For nearly a year, we have managed to prevent the plan's implementation and we are not willing to give up."

Koby Mohr, the director-general of the Airport Authority, came down to speak to the demonstrators. He told the residents that the municipality had proposed several alternatives which are being considered seriously by the civilian aviation Authority which approves the flight-routes.

MORE info can be found in the blogs listed below. It is provided in hope that CT residents and others who suffer from airplane noise nuisance will find it instructive!

This one has beautiful pictured of the convoy and the demionstrations! The signs are great! One of them says: "We don't want planes. We want quality of life." Another says We want skies clear of planes." A third says "Koby Mohr, RESIGN!" Similar to certain blogs in the U.S calling for the FAA director to resign!...

And a big white sign has a "takeoff on" (no pun intended) an old children's song about a plane, which says something like "aeroplane, aeroplane, come down to us from the sky..." and bring us whatever goodies the song talks about... well, the big white signs has 4 lines which rhyme perfectly in Hebrew, saying: Come down to us, airplane, Bring upon us, with joy and happiness, Your noise, smoke, and stench, And we shall live in Hell."

Another sign says simply "Modi'in Wants Safety."

http://eplanesmodiin.blogspot.com/.html/

Clear Skies for Modiin:
http://eplanesmodiin.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html/

http://eplanesmodiin.blogspot.com/2009/07/operation-clear-skies-is-underway.html/

July 15 entry in Modi’in’s blog,

http://h179336wp.setupmyblog.com/?p=210.html/