Jewish activists fail in attempt to block LOT flights from landing in the U.S.

Polish Airlines LOT can continue its flights to New York and Newark unimpeded, after members of the Jewish community there failed in their attempt to block LOT flights to the United States. The Jewish group was hoping that its efforts would bring the return of Jewish property in Poland that was lost following World War II. According to Marek Tomaszewski, leader of Forum Polonia, an association of Polish immigrants in the New York area, the attempt to prevent the flights was a propaganda ploy. Moves to deprive LOT of its landing rights at JFK International Airport had been initiated by Dov Hinkind and Jeff Klein, Democrat members of the New York State legislature. However, the authorities at Newark International Airport pointed out that closing the airport to an airline would violate Federal Aviation Law. The move to prevent LOT flights from landing failed to gain much support in the New York State legislative assembly, but Hinkind and Klein may renew their efforts next year. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A5) M.T.K.