JERUSALEM, May 27 (UPI) -- Jordan and Turkey's national airlines have withdrawn from the Second International Jerusalem Tourism Summit, Israeli officials said.
The airlines apparently faced pressure after being identified as sponsors of the tourism summit in online ads, Ynetnews.com reported. The summit opens Tuesday in Jerusalem and each of the companies had agreed to pay some $8,000 toward the event, the website said.
Earlier this month, Royal Jordanian Airlines issued a statement on its Facebook page denying it planned to sponsor the event.
"The use by what is called the Second International Jerusalem Tourism Summit of the RJ logo on its site was done without the carrier's knowledge or approval clarifying that an Israeli travel agent provided the site with the logo without the approval of Royal Jordanian," the statement said.
The airline said the logo was removed from the site following a strong objection from the airline and the travel agent responsible apologized to the airline.
Hamas official Essat al-Resheq praised the two countries for their stand calling it a step in the right direction, the Palestinian Information Center reported
"Turkish Airlines and Royal Jordanian alongside other airlines, considered taking part in the Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit, but due to tight schedules at the time of the conference, the sponsorship was not executed. We hope to cooperate in the next conference," an Israeli Tourism Ministry statement said.
