JERUSALEM, Dec. 28 (JTA) A United Nations commission has ordered Iraq to pay Israel’s national airline $7 million in compensation for economic damages suffered during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
The sum was far below El Al’s original claim of $70 million, which accounted for a loss of revenue due to the drop in passenger travel during the war and the cost of moving the fleet and altering flight paths.
“We’re a little disappointed. We had incurred much greater losses,” said company spokesman Nachman Kleiman, who added the company is looking into the possibility of an appeal.
Kleiman said the airline does not know when it would receive the money.
The U.N. commission also approved payments to two Israeli families for property damage sustained in Iraqi Scud missile attacks. One family is to receive $135,000 and the other $66,000.
An Israeli Justice Ministry official said the commission has approved damages so far amounting to about $45 million in response to 531 claims filed by 404 individuals and 127 businesses. Only about $3 million has been paid.
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