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Woman Allegedly Removed From Flight To NYC Over Middle East Debate
By
Scott Heins
Published Jul 12, 2014
Modified Jul 12, 2014
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By
Scott Heins
Published Jul 12, 2014
Modified Jul 12, 2014
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A woman is claiming that anti-Semitism is to blame for her removal from a JetBlue flight bound for NYC from Florida earlier this week.
Lisa Rosenberg, a physician based in New York, says she was attempting to board a flight Monday night from Palm Beach International Airport to JFK when another woman approached her, identified herself as Palestinian, and claimed to be offended by remarks Rosenberg had made on a phone call, according to the Palm Beach Post. After an exchange of words, JetBlue staff allegedly asked Rosenberg to leave the plane, which she did.
“I was saying how it was good Israel found the students that killed the Palestinian teenager and how it was exemplary not making them into heroes, but seeking to publicly try them,” Rosenberg told the Palm Beach Post. “I said any other country would have made these students out to be martyrs and celebrating them.” The Palestinian woman allegedly became angry and argumentative with her. Rosenberg told WPBF that the woman began cursing her and calling her a "Zionist pig."
The Palm Beach Post has this account:
Rosenberg described the incident as an "ugly, racially driven altercation." She said "voices were raised” and that perhaps she was more vocal during the scene, but that it was because she felt victimized.
A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy arrived after Rosenberg had been escorted off the plane by airline representatives, sheriff’s spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.
According to WPBF, no JetBlue staff member was willing to answer Rosenberg's questions as she was removed from the flight. Rosenberg is now claiming that the incident was a hate crime, telling the local Floridian ABC affiliate, "I just was completely outraged that I would be asked to leave a plane, being a Jew." JetBlue told the outlet that Rosenberg's story "in no way reflects the report that we have," but did not release the report.
Tagged
anti semitism
florida
jetblue
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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