Though Simon Harris claims ignorance, Israel’s national airline illegally transported well over a tonne of handguns to Israel through Irish territory this January.
Foreign affairs minister Harris said on the Late Late Show last Friday he doesn’t “believe” weaponry is being flown to Israel through Irish airspace.
Israel’s national carrier El Al brought 1,500 kilogrammes of guns over Ireland early this year – labelling them “wepons” (sic) on the airline’s own customs paperwork.
Harris in his Late Late Show appearance said, “The ability of Ireland on its own to know exactly what goes through Irish airspace is a real challenge.”
El Al’s 12 January, 2025 flight from JFK Airport to Tel Aviv wasn’t prevented from using the state’s airspace despite Harris’s government being informed more than seven months ago the airline was illegally transporting munitions of war through Irish territory.
This weapons shipment took place more than two months after The Ditch reported the same airline transported more than 1,300 kilogrammes of guns through Irish airspace.
The most recent flight illegally transporting Israel-bound munitions through Irish airspace identified by The Ditch was on 29 April.
Harris has been contacted for comment.
