Haley's helicopter ride: US envoy to UN flies over Israel

Washington's ambassador to the UN is due to visit the Kerem Salom Crossing to see firsthand what Israel allows into Gaza.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: JUNE 8, 2017 16:34
UN Ambassador Haley visits Kerem Shalom crossing near Gaza border region June 8, 2017. Credit: Ziv Sokolov/US Embassy Tel Aviv
Visiting United States Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley took to the skies over Israel on Thursday in a helicopter flyover with stops to tour the country's southern and northern borders.
Haley, who is in the country until Saturday, was accompanied on the flight and subsequent tour of the border with the Gaza Strip by her Israeli counterpart Danny Dannon and IDF Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi.
During the flight, Dannon spoke to Haley of the security challenges faced by Israeli populations near the Gaza border along with the current situation in the Strip under the control of Hamas.
"Hamas is investing all of its resources into armament and the digging of murderous terrorist tunnels on the [financial] account of Gaza's civilians," he said, adding that Hamas "educates the children of Gaza to hate Israel and denies them any change of welfare and prosperity."
On Thursday afternoon, Haley will visit the Kerem Salom Crossing to see firsthand what Israel allows into Gaza. She will also suvery the site of Hamas terror tunnel that was uncovered in Israeli territory before meeting with resident from Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the southern border communities. She was then expected to visit Israel's northern border region later in the day.
Haley arrived in Israel on Wednesday and proceeded to meet with President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.