The government has denied reports in the media that a private Israeli jet carrying tourists to Shangri-la Villigilli Resort landed in Addu City this week.
President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza dismissed the claim today as “completely false.”
“The government’s stand is that [the claim] is a lie,” he asserted, suggesting that the rumours originated from staff at the airport.
Two officials at the Addu International Airport Company Ltd (AIACL) told Minivan News that the private jet departed yesterday after spending four days at Gan International Airport.
An airport official told Minivan News on condition of anonymity that the Gulfstream Aerospace G200 flight (4X-CLL) arrived on Sunday with tourists from the Jewish state, and had been parked at the Gan Airport for four days prior to its departure in the morning yesterday.
Banning Israeli flights to the Maldives was among five demands made at a ‘mega-protest’ on December 23, organised by a coalition of eight parties and religious NGOs to ‘Defend Islam’ against the allegedly liberal policies of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.
Following the change of government on February 7, the ruling coalition-dominated parliament passed a resolution on April 25 preventing Israeli national airline El Al from operating scheduled flights to the Maldives.
El Al had applied to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in May 2011 requesting permission to fly to the country starting in December 2011, prompting the religious conservative Adhaalath Party to warn of a potential terrorist attack “due to the commencement of Zionist Israel’s flight operations to Maldives.”
Adhaalath severed its coalition agreement with the then-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in September, soon after the Transport Ministry granted a licence to El Al to begin operations to Maldives.
Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla and Islamic Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed were not responding at time of press.
“First Israeli flight”
Speaking to Minivan News, an operations officer at Gan International Airport explained that a large number of private jets routinely fly to Addu City with “rich tourists.” The official stressed that authorisation for the flight to land in the Maldives would have been granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Officials from the department were unavailable for comment at the time of press.
Community news site Addu Online meanwhile reported that according to an AIACL official, the private jet arrived on Sunday from Israel after transiting in another country.
The community website claimed that jet was operating under a license granted to the Israeli Amateur Radio Club. According to Addu Online, the private jet was the first flight from Israel to land at the Gan airport.
Speaking to Minivan News in April last year, former Transport Minister Adhil Saleem defended the MDP government’s decision to authorise Israeli flights, arguing that it would create opportunities for both Israeli tourists to visit the country as well as facilitate pilgrimages for Maldivians to the al-Aqsa mosques in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam.
“Some Maldivians see Israel as controversial over the issue of Palestine. Yet Palestine accepts Israel as a state, benchmarking the point that I don’t see why we should not allow these flights.”
Saleem said that the Maldives already played host to a number of Israeli tourists at its resorts and that authorising Israeli airlines would allow for a greater influx of guests to the country’s tourism industry.
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There is no issue of landing a private jet at Gan Island and Israeli also allowed to travel Maldives as a tourist. What is the big deal.
Minivan is trying to create a scene and trying to play games to create a havoc in this country hoping the Dictator will be able to come back.
Many of people who are opposing to give landing rights to El AI flight was not really meant to banned the all Israelis but rather was opposing the very nature of dictators influence to have multi religious freedom in the Maldivian soil .
Fully agree with coup govt !
No tourists from Israel should be allowed to enter our Muslim state.
Same for tourists of Commonwealth - they are so biased towards our govt that they too should be banned from entering Maldives.
Same with all goods from those evil Commonwealth countries.
What about India then ? The Tamil Tigers originally come from that country. Ban them ! Of course same for Lanka people.
No Buddhist as well. All Chinese banned, They are whether Buddhist, whether atheist. Out them too.
Of course no Muslims who are not Sunni. out.
Welcome to Pak, Afghan, Bangla (though ... mmm, nope, ban them too)
More ?
Could be Minivan News be more 'independent' than this? What a lame article.
If the government did allow Jews and their Jewish machines to land on our soil, then it was a big mistake for which they will have to pay on the day of judgement! I say this as a great Islamic scholar with knowledge on the subject, and I must warn my Muslim Maldivian brothers and non-fornicating sisters to severe connections with Israel.
The government is stupid if they denied this. It's about time, we welcomed Israeli flights to the Maldives just like the way we already welcome thousands of Israeli tourists & Arab tourists regularly.
I would go a step further. We should also encourage Israeli investments as well as Arab investments in the Maldives.
Politicizing irrelevant issues under the guise of Islam by some is not in our national interest. In a democracy there will be different opinions, but the government has to act rationally.
@ Mode
Are you being subjected to mind control? Seriously , just read what you have written, scary stuff, Mode. You are losing your mind.
Your attempts to spin is pathetic.
The uproar over Israel had EVERYTHING to do with Israel.
And what is this nonsense about President Nasheed wanting a multi religion state? What a joke.
President Nasheed shoud take a few people to court to settle this once and for all.
Sheikh Imran Abdullah
Is it only the sisters who fornicate, dear Sheikh?
Let call Israelis and Jews to boycott Maldives as well. I am sending this article to Israeli travel agents and to Israeli newspapers. Bravo Waheed.
to Sheikh Imran Abdullah
Please, dont forget to take your daily medications to treat your Schizophrenia symtoms and stop telling bullsh..ts
"There is no issue of landing a private jet at Gan Island and Israeli also allowed to travel Maldives as a tourist. What is the big deal."
No biggie, except that this was what you got your panties in a bunch for on 23rd Dec 2011. A pretext used repeatedly to call for the Armed Forces to mutiny. A mutiny which no doubt has opened the Pandoras box of future meddling by the military in political affairs.
I would like to clarify something from Sheikh Imran Abdullah, when you say "....my muslim brothers and non fornicating sisters....."
Do you mean to say that fornication is haraam for women only because, u seem to address all men as muslim brothers. I wonder to whom these fornicating sisters fornicated. You guys are destroying the least bit of faith left.
Why Jews ppl ve to come to Maldives? They r nowhere really welcome but always need to pop up n coz trouble, i wouldnt bother going anywhere where im not welcome n ppl dont like me to be, there r more countries with Sun n beaches, Why they choosed Maldives? Just to create problems, justlike this country hasnt got enough probs atm. No pride they got, No pride!
This is outrageous! I am outraged! They must be garrotted on the spot!
@Shad on Thu, 17th May 2012 10:58 PM
"I would like to clarify something from Sheikh Imran Abdullah, when you say “….my muslim brothers and non fornicating sisters…..”
Do you mean to say that fornication is haraam for women only because, u seem to address all men as muslim brothers. I wonder to whom these fornicating sisters fornicated. You guys are destroying the least bit of faith left."
I believe Sheikh Imran Abdullah is mocking me, but nothing he says is fundementally untrue.
What you do not realize, you wretched MalDeviant, is that it is indeed our harlots that are doing most of the fornicating. Usually with each other. Woe unto our harlots!
This jet did come and me see it and met the Jews. I think this is bad.
Let more jets come!. Its a good business
When MDP government viewed the Israeli Airline proposal before any decision was made, all hell broke loose!
"3 fat farts" and a bunch of greedy pigs could not even take a wink of sleep!
Howling mad, screaming verse after verse from the Holy Qur'an and throwing out article after article from the Constitution! Now what?
Now wag your tails dear brothers! You never knew when the Golha had and screwed you!
Take a deep breath and go to sleep with “There is no issue of landing a private jet at Gan Island and Israeli also allowed to travel Maldives as a tourist. What is the big deal.”
And oh! When Maldivians can visit Israel, they also can come in their private jets! And yes! They are only private jets! Not the Israeli Airline EL AL!
This is not hypocrisy, it is dhee, muguraafa, dhee! Wow!
This is outrageous! I too am out raged!
I am going to garotte myself "on the spot"! Today! But, after garotting "the garotte master" only!
"The Garotte Master" you are garotted!
Sheikh Imran Abdullah is yaamyn
PPM is haven good relation ship with Is rail
Ali. I can prove that Anni the dictator tried his level best to allow multi religion in this country and if he goes to court and he can not defend himself and he will have to face the consequences.
You may be blind to see that and your spiritual leader had spoiled our economy and he had robbed this country more than what Maumoon had taken in 30 years.
Your spiritual leader and Gayoom had an understanding and that is why he could not find anything against Gayyoom regime in three years despite the fact so called " Unbiased commons he formed" to investigate Yameen and Gayyoom corrupt deals.
You think he could not. I do not think so, but he knew that he dig up those and then next government will also dig up his back yard also. This is why he never was able to do anything.
You will accuse anyone who has difference in opinion and who ever not pray to Anni will be called " Baaghee" and a traitor.
Israeli amateur radio club? Ha ha..very funny. Is that a new cover name for the Mossad? Maldives, please keep these dangerous people out of your country. I believe the airport staff, after all, they were there and saw it all happen.
@Mode
My question was, where is the evidence?have guts and substantiate your accusations
There is a very fine line between exercising our right to freedom of expression... and using an opportunity to slander.
By all means speak up but be responsible about walking over other peoples rights.
@ Dhivehi Hanguraama
Why don't you garrote yourself??? You seem to have nothing else to say except that you are always outraged and you want people in Maldives garrotted! You come across as someone who is extremely bored and have nothing better to do than spread malicious stories about Maldives and its people and how you are being outraged by them. I think this calls for all Maldivians to snuff the life out of you and silence you once and for all! Its outrageous what you write here!
@mode has a point, though I must say Maumoon is as much of a God to his followers as Anni is to his...
You see, IF what I am told is correct, most politicians from BOTH, or ALL sides have so much dirt on each other, that the whole corruption fighting thing is a huge stalemate. Both ways, everyone can blackmail everyone else into silence... So, at least I am told, if any honest person does open their mouth, and it happens, they would be silenced by both sides of the divide through a.) making up false stuff about them to tarnish their reputation, to discredit the truth of their information b.) sacking them and alienating them c.) if that does not work, you can just get gangsters to stab them.
If what I am told is correct, then, you cannot speak against tyranny without completely destroying yourself and your family in the process.
You must admit, it SEEMS that Maumoon's ppl allowed Anni's ppl to have their elections in the first place on some strict conditions... That Maumoon controlled the judiciary... It was understood by Anni that, if push came to shove, the most revered from Maumoon's former NSS, who were sacked by Anni, still held the loyalty of the real powerbrokers in the defence forces!
Because many were pushing Anni to get justice, he set up some toothless commissions and gave his enemies a few days vacation on the Presidential resort to give the impression he was for justice, but the opposition knew it was a joke! When Anni finally decided to make a real move, against the Judge, Maumoon simply ordered Umar Naseer, Nazim, a few cops to simply end it!
That was my perception anyway.
I pray Allah raises ENOUGH ppl up in Maldives who have got the moral fortitude and psychological strength to endure the fire and persecution they would go through for speaking the truth, so that, eventually, people would begin to be afraid of being hedonistic tyrants...
Ameen
@Mode, just think!
Do you think or feel Gayyoom would leave anything for someone to do it first time!
Gayyoom already has AMDC working on spreading Christianity!
It is infested with people trying to spread Christianity in a very slow and steady manner!
Anni could come to nowhere near Gayyoom on these things!
As far as the Anni Gayyoom relationship is concerned, they would loath each other and Gayyoom would love to see Anni dead!
It is difficult to believe Anni will resort to violence under the most difficult circumstances!
About the back yard digging, I will for the moment agree with you! But I very much doubt Anni would have a back yard to dig!
He is a down to earth contented person except for one thing; to be able to move forward faster than fast!
Even if his back yard is dug, he would be most willing to stand trial and if found guilty, I guess he will serve his sentence, justly as always!
Is Adil Riza is denying this then he is talking through his backside.
No aircraft would operate into Maldives and land and park there without the approval of the relevant Authorities.
The Majlis statement does not ban private Israili jets. What the Majlis statement says reflect to Israeli national airline.
This is not an Israeli airline at all. This is an American jet registered in Israel that is owned by a company.
Israeli citizens are not banned from coming to Maldives. An Israeli private jet can fly to Maldives. There is no ban on Israeli private jets operating to Maldives.
This is not the first time that this very aircraft has operated to Maldives. This has come in April 2010 too under Annis regime.
Israeli private jets have come to Maldives under Gayoom's regime too.
So what is all this fuss then?
The jews will come to steal your eyes you ignorant camel riders!
@mode on Fri, 18th May 2012 10:30 AM
"I can prove that Anni the dictator tried his level best to allow multi religion in this country and if he goes to court and he can not defend himself and he will have to face the consequences."
So what? Can you show me evidence from the Holy Quran or the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), that forbids the practice of "other" religions?
Do you know what the Quran says about other religions?
If you cannot answer these objectively, then don't bother answering at all, since I know for a fact, that you don't have the knowlege and intellect to talk about this subject.
Mr Waheed keeps talking about "moderate Islam" whenever he talks to foreigners, as in his recent Indian visit. What is this "moderate Islam" that he speaks of?
Ali, i do not need to disclose anything to you and you will see things get unfolded in Maldives.
I have known Anni very closely and i know his arrogance and he look down on all, except those who believe what ever he says whether it is true or false.
If you are really close to him and if you really bothered to tell the truth, you would have had the same experience and you would know from your heart that he is not honest person.
But if you are one of those thugs who are blind about him, of course, you would not find anything against the dictator and he will be seen an angel.
Too late. Tooo laaaaaate. *laughs like Ursala*
my English is not perfect and there is always something new I learn. From the comments of the Sheiks I have learned the word "fornicating". Counting how many times they are using this word it seems that this is the most important thing which is on their mind.
@Sana
I know for certain that you are a Jew but I shall explain my statement. Women, being inferior to men according to the hadith of our Prophet Muhammed S.A.W, drive pious men into fornication by dressing outrageously i.e without the hijab. The blame goes to the woman who is in this case, the seducer, the deceiver and ultimately, the guilty of adultery!
Narrated Usama:
The Prophet said, "I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that the majority of the people who entered it were the poor, while the wealthy were stopped at the gate (for the accounts). But the companions of the Fire were ordered to be taken to the Fire. Then I stood at the gate of the Fire and saw that the majority of those who entered it were women."
Sheikh Imran Abdullah, it sounds like the men of the Maldives need to learn a bit of self control.
Nobody except him made him get hard. He could learn to say no. He's obviously not that committed to Allah if he can't say no to a "inferior" women.
Does anybody care whether an Israeli jet landed in Addu or not?
I am sure the Israeli's are not going to lose any sleep over this incident.
Small news items seem to be big news in small countries.
All one reads in these columns is the rantings of mad mullahs.
We should only allow hard core Sunnis like Taliban and Al Queda to come and vacation in Maldives. Ban all others, and supply our fornicating sistres to our esteem guests!
An article detailing unsubstantiated rumors followed by comments filled with hate and personal attacks against each other.
A reflection of the level of discourse in our country.
Now we have a chance at reversing the trend if we can manage to stop our constant bickering. Let Anni and Waheed and Qayyoom and Qasim and all those others duke it out among themselves. If the political elite cannot find a way to settle their differences amicably at least we the common folk can try to find the means to reconnect with our families, friends, loved ones and countrymen.
@ Indira NewDelhi
You are one of the 'mad mullahs'! You are always on Minivan News raving and ranting, you bored woman!
Indirani bint Krishna aal-Hindustani,
Your opinion is irrelevant, o pagan woman. Get thee hence to the kitchen.
@Indira NewDelhi
Clearly you are not informed about the Drama Over Israel in the Maldives.
Let me brief you.
Our parliament passed a resolution banning the Israel National Airline to land in the Maldives, soon after the coup that removed President Nasheed from office.
This apparently was the very big deal that caused the gathering on December 23 2011 of Those Who Defend Islam.
Resort owners, leaders of ALL political parties opposed to President Nasheed, Wahhabis, Arab agents campaigning for the Maldives to return to the 11th Century, women in hijaab,(black of course, hijaab in colour may inflame the passions of men which apparently they have no control over), camels on the streets instead of motor vehicles, goat and camel milk instead of coconut milk or cow’s milk, men who do not bath, men to wear Capri shorts instead of trousers, the abolition of schooling for girls and women, schools to be replaced by Madhrasaas where they only teach the Sunnah, polygamy to be the norm instead of the exception, girls to be married when they start menstruating, kill everyone including Muslims who is not a Wahhabi, the list goes on. I will try to get the full list from an Adhalath Party member, the party that is advocating the conversion of Maldivians from Islam to a cult called Wahhabism.
Anyway, to get back to the issue of Israel.
What we are saying is that we are very confused that Those Who Came Out To Defend Islam on December 23 2011 have allowed an Israel plane to land on our blessed soil after all the drama over this.
I hope this clarifies.
Oh Dear.....an Israeli jet has landed in Addu.....what are we, the dumb people of Addu going to do?.....are the jews going to enslave us like they did the Palestinians?.....are they going to make harlots of all our women?
This incident seems to be the most exciting event to have taken place in the boring Maldives in a long time.
Let's hope the plane was full of Mossad agents come to case the joint.
@ Mode
There is no spiritual leader in MDP. According to the MDP constitution the President of the Maldives if elected on an MDP ticket, is the Leader of the party.
When the President of the Maldives is not from the MDP, the leader of the MDP is the President of the party.
President Nasheed is the Leader of the MDP until his term of office ends in 2013. The MDP Council does not recognise Dr Waheed as President of the Maldives.
This would not even be a story if the Coup Leaders didn't make a Faustian bargain with the Fundamentalist Devil.
Now the Devil has come calling.
Good analysis,Ben.
@Sheikh Imran Abdulla
Dear Imran, have some respect for your mother. And all the women in your family who carry you men in their wombs for 9 months and raise you and take care of you and your family till they die.
@Zeenia
1. Israel tourists have been coming to the Maldives for decades during Gayoom's government and made to feel very welcome
2. There are quite a few Maldivian business men who do business with people from Israel
3. There are many of us who do business with Jews every day, selling holiday bookings, flight bookings, selling products to them, buying products from them, serving guests
6. ALL the resort owners who came out on 23 December 2011 have entertained Jewish guests in their resorts from Israel and other countries.
So, my point, Zeenia is that the people of Israel and other Jews have been made very welcome in the Maldives.
It’s only Sheikh Shaheem, and his Adhalath Party members who have started this anti Israel campaign, clearly influenced by racist sexist fascist ideologies from wherever they studied. I wouldn’t be surprised. Nothing these wannabe Sheikhs say or do surprise me.They are the lowliest of the lowliest , using Islam as a political tool to fry our brains.
They have no integrity. All they want is power.
Time to start thinking, Zeenia.
The hypocrisy of those who came out on 23 December to ”to defend Islam” is being revealed to all our people now, one by one they are exposing themselves.
How for example does the new government justify hiring a Jewish Public Relations firm to do the glossy on the Maldives? The founder of the PR Company has publicly taken a stand for the Jewish people and Jewish culture.
Think about t. This is serious.
We are being taken for a ride.
mohamed. You are wrong Anni is the spiritual leader. All the people are expected to follow him and move around and there is no party democracy in MDP . Anni is playing games there.
I am also a member of MDP but now i do not go there and i do not like the way Anni plays games and i do not want to believe all what Anni says and he not an angel and he is a one big lier.
But i will nerve quit MDP and will stay in the Party and hope that one day MDP will become free from Anni, the dictator.
I sincerely urge Addu Adhaalath members to wash the the area where this Jewish Jet taxied on the runway at Addu Int. Airport. Just for Islamic safety they better use bleach and dhandi saiboani.
@ Aisha
Do not you see wot they are doing to Palastinian. Forget about Shaheem & Adhaalath my dear daughter. Where is the humanright here. Dont you think we should do somthing about it as the member of the so called the humanright in the so called UN. When the money comes we get blind. We see only one side.
@ Aisha, you are a great Lady. These so called Sheiks should be brought down to their boots??
Jews had been outcasts in Europe and some other continents too from time immemorial up until the end of second World War in 1945. They were expelled from England primarily for usury related cases and gross misdemeanor, during King EdwardI's time in 1290. The ban remained in force till they were readmitted to England during Oliver Cromwell's reign in mid 1650s, some 350 years later.
Jews were expelled from Spain under Alhambra Decree by Catholic Monarchs of Spain in 1492. Technically this ban was officially revoked on 16th December 1968.
With the end of World War-2 in 1945 and with the advent of the Establishment of State of Israel on 14 May 1948, the terminologies tagged on to the Jews were to be reinvented and redirected on to Muslims, a master piece of, brainwashing and polishing started to emerge gradually. Extremists, Fanatics, Lunatics, hard core activists,usurpers, outcasts, objects of resentment, and many more of this nature which were tagged on to them are passed on to Arabs and Muslims. What a spin!!!
Although, the Jews are very arrogant, egoistic and covetous, they are praise worthy of being so smart to change almost the whole world to their favour to day from outcasts to Kings of the land.
What is this Israeli Airline, a big deal?? Israeli tourists have been coming here for a long time ant its products have been here since long time. We can comfortably do business with Jews as long as we regard them as masters of the land, the rightful title of them at the World stage today. Cannot deny the fact???