Israel increases airline safety procedures after Malaysian plane disappearance

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel has increased airline safety procedures in the wake of the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight 370.

Israel’s Channel 2 reported Sunday that, following assessments of the situation by Israeli defense officials, a long list of airline safety procedures, which remain confidential for security reasons, were implemented.

One guideline that has been instituted, according to Channel 2, is to identify foreign aircraft much earlier before they enter Israeli airspace.

The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday cited unnamed Transportation Ministry officials as saying that there is “an instruction to increase alertness and nothing more,” and that no drastic measures have been taken.

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Marcy Oster is a JTA correspondent in Israel. She worked at the Cleveland Jewish News for nearly 12 years and was senior staff reporter when she made aliyah in 2000. She has won several awards for her writing from organizations including The Press Club of Cleveland, Society for Professional Journalists, Women in Communications and the American Jewish Press Association.