Canada Declines to Confirm Approval of Netanyahu's Flight Through Its Airspace

The Canadian government has refused to disclose whether it granted permission for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plane to enter Canadian airspace en route to the United States. Netanyahu was traveling to attend the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. According to Canadian regulations, all foreign government aircraft must obtain prior approval before entering Canadian airspace. Israel confirmed it formally requested clearance for the "Kanaf Zion" plane but did not confirm if approval was granted. Similarly, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declined to confirm whether permission was given, stating that Canada does not currently link airspace approval policies to law enforcement considerations except in cases of immediate security threats. The Canadian Foreign Ministry also refrained from commenting on the flight path chosen by the Israeli leader.

CBC reported that because Canada refuses to clarify if approval was granted, it remains unknown whether the plane's passage was authorized. Experts in international law told CBC that regardless of whether permission was given, the flight raises questions about Canadian sovereignty and international law. If the flight occurred without approval, it could be considered a violation of Canadian sovereignty, though Canadian authorities have not responded to this possibility. The situation continues to prompt scrutiny over the legal and diplomatic implications of the flight through Canadian airspace.