Kerry is expected to fly here to jerusalem at some point soon. Also right now, a belgium plane is on the way to ukraine to pick up the flight data recorders from malaysia air flight 17. The question now what, if anything, can those black boxes tell us. Hello, im wolf blitzer reporting from washington. Id like to welcome our viewers from the United States and around the world. An update now on the breaking news were following. The crisis in the middle east now affecting International Air travel. First, several u. S. Carriers started suspending flights into and out of israel. Now the faa back in washington is prohibiting those flights by all u. S. Airline because of the fighting between israel and hamas. The move comes after a rocket landed on a house close to ben gurion International Airport, just outside tel aviv. Cnns rene marsh joining us from washington. Rene, first of all, which airlines, roughly how many flights are affected . Why did the faa decide to take this extraordinary step . Well, wolf, we can tell you, as far as the airlines go, what cnn has been able to confirm so far, we know delta, us airways, united, they say they have suspended their operations to and from tel aviv. Air canada has also told cnn that they are simply evaluating the situation. So were waiting to hear if they will follow the lead of these u. S. Carriers. Going back to the faa statement, we do know, now, that they are prohibiting all u. S. Airlines they have come out, said this within a notice, that they will not be allowed to fly to and from the airport there in tel aviv for a period of up to 24 hours. And after that 24 hours passed, they will reevaluate the situation and issue another in the notice. All of this, its a result of that rocket strike. They say it landed approximately a mile from the airport. So of course that raises security concerns. Before this announcement from the faa, we saw the airlines, they were taking action on their own, choosing to cancel their flights, but now we have word from the faa, no u. S. Carriers should be flying to or from that airport in tel aviv. Wolf. It looks like theres a republic Ripple Effect going on because were just getting word from our Richard Quest lufthansa has suspended all flights in and out of israel for 36 hours as they reevaluate the situation. El al, the israeli carrier, will still fly nonstop between israel and the United States, and between israel and places in europe and elsewhere. This is a significant development. I take it in part the faa, united, us airways, theyre also airing on the side of caution. Right now, its a very sensitive situation. What are you hearing . Absolutely, because, you know, just moments after this flight was shot down and we realized that was what the situation was, the question then became why was this plane in that airspace, and the answer has been that airspace was not restricted and so the question became why not. So now i think what were seeing now is people, agencies, whether its the faa, or whether its their International Counterparts as well as the airliners, theyre not taking any chances. Again, a big Lesson Learned here following flight 17 in which originally it was believed that flight would have been safe if it was flying above 32,000 feet. It was flying at 33,000 feet. That situation proved everyone wrong, that it was not a safe situation. So i think what were seeing now is reevaluation process so to speak. People just not wanting to have another situation like this unfold. Just taking every precaution possible, wolf. As i said, erring on the side of caution. Rene, stand by. I want to go to Ben Gurion Airport right now. Atika shubert has made her way there. Less than a mile or so, a rocket from gaza, from hamas landed near Ben Gurion Airport. There have been others that have landed not far away from Ben Gurion Airport. Last week, hamas issued a statement, telling International Carriers dont fly to israel anymore because your planes could be in danger. What are you seeing there, atika, and whats been the reaction youre getting from israelis . Well, im actually in the town of yahoud. This is where the rocket landed, almost completely destroying a house there. So it is a concern. Having said that, weve been seeing planes landing and departing now every few minutes. So in many way, the Ben Gurion Airport is operating as normal. But obviously, this could have a very significant effect if now the u. S. Airlines are not flying here and lufthansa has redirected it could have a knockon effect with Many Airlines and that could have a terrible blow to the economy, especially in israel. Israels transportation minister has already come out criticizing the u. S. Airline, telling them they shouldnt be redirecting their flights, and specifically saying that by doing this, they were, quote, giving a prize to terrorists. This is from israels transportation minister, israel katz. So clearly israel very upset with this. But what can it do if all of these airlines are taking this decision and erring on the side of caution. Well have to see how many more follow in the foot steps of delta, us airways and united airlines. Now apparently lufthansa as well. Well see if air canada and other International Carriers do. Youre absolutely right, this could be a significant blow to israels economy if tourism almost completely dries up. Stand by. I want to get some analysis now on ways going on. Joining us here in jerusalem is the former israeli ambassador to the United States. Also joining us on the phone is michael goldfar, the former faa chief of staff. Mr. Ambassador, first to you, you spent several years in washington. You know the faa doesnt make these kinds of decision easily. Are they doing the right thing, erring on the side of caution . Well, the short answer is no. Not being disrespectful to the faa, but i think this is the wrong dealing with the situation. First of all, el al, which is known for its high standards of security, is flying in and out. I think air canada is still flying. So from the perspective of danger, there is no danger whatsoever. Weve been receiving all these rockets for almost 30 days now. Its not the situation of the Malaysian Airline which was hit directly by a specific missile that was supplied by the russians, to the russian separatists. They cannot hurt our airlines. So this is the first thing. And safety of course is above everything. And safety has not been compromised whatsoever. Let me ask michael goldfar about that. You worked at the faa for a long time. Clearly a decision like this is not an easy decision by the faa. Give us your take. I respectfully disagree with the ambassador. I think its a good decision for israel in the longer term because it puts the government who has the technical information, who understands the risk, as opposed to each individual airline, in the position of making these determinations. What would happen if the faa didnt step in, when would delta resume flights into tel aviv, when would american resume flights, on the basis of what information . So the government needs to take these steps. Whether its safe or not, its the perception of risk and the perception is high. Clearly covered by mh17. But nonetheless, its a timeout, a time to put a more orderly process in place, wolf, to see how one can resume, safely, flights into the airfield. Michael, i assume that its not just the rocket that landed within a mile or so of Ben Gurion Airport, did destroy pretty much that house weve been showing our viewers that picture, and its probably not just the threat that was issued by hamas last week warning International Carriers dont fly in and out of israel. I assume the faa would only do this if they had some other information that would reinforce that fear, that notion, dont fly to israel. And i ask that question, if based on your experience at the faa. I do believe theres other information they have. I think the backdrop has to be what happened in the ukraine. I mean, it basically blew apart the whole theory of when handheld missiles or ground missiles could reach civil airlines, Civil Aviation, at 32,000 or 33,000 feet. And now the question really is, and it will be a debate, whether other governments will follow suit, and handle airspace and airspace restriction, as opposed to leaving it up to each individual airline. A pilot is not in a position to make decisions of safety and security threats. The Airlines Operations dont get that kind of information. So i think it is somewhat of a game changer longterm. But it gives a pause, allows a more orderly way to resume flights safely. Ambassador, its not a coincidence, as you probably know, you spent, what, four or five years as the israeli ambassador in washington. This follows the state Department Travel advisory that was issued last night. Warning all americans to stay away from israel, except for if to stay away for everything, except for essential business in israel, nonessential travel to israel, they say, should not take place. Certainly theyre advising against any travel whatsoever to gaza. The state Department Issues a travel advisory like this, saying dont go to israel if you dont have to right now. Now the faa canceling all u. S. Airline flights here. Do you remember a time when this was Something Like this was happening . Never the faa. I think trying to remotely compare the situation here in gaza and the ukraine, and the malaysian is totally wrong. Statistically to hit Ben Gurion Airport is the same statistics to hit, now, cairo airport or amman in jordan or many in between. The faa is not stopping all flights to the middle east. Again, on the merit of security, security is not compromised, safety is not compromised, number one. Secondly, from the broader perspective this can wreak havoc on all air Civil Aviation worldwide. Because if the lesson from hamas that any rogue organization can threat countries and airlines and they will stop and heed to this, then i dont think there is much hope for the international economy. So i think this is wrong, and i hope they will reconsider soon. The faa . Absolutely. A lot will depend if theres a ceasefire and things get back to normal, maybe they will. Even without a cease fire weve been sustaining this for 30 days. Nothing is going to happen in the airport. And i think if they look and do their analysis, they will find out that this was a decision to be reversed. Mr. Ambassador, i want you to stay with us. I have some other questions on the efforts for the ceasefire. Thats coming up. Michael, thanks very much for joining us. Well stay on top of the breaking news. Theres other news were following, including here on the ground, diplomats are intensifying the push to end the bloodshed, but there does not, at least for now, does not appear to be any progress in sight. Here are the latest developments were following right now. A fresh round of explosions rocked gaza today. Black smoke filled the air. As Israeli Forces pounded more targets. Hamas fired more rockets in israel. Secretary of state john kerrys expected to come to jerusalem at some point. Hes trying to help broker a ceasefire. Hes still in cairo. Earlier, the secretary said talks have been constructive thus far. U. N. Secretarygeneral ban kimoon had a blunt message for both sides in the conflict, stop fighting and start talking. Ban held a joint appearance with the israeli Prime Minister netanyahu in tel aviv. The israeli leader says the goal of hamas is not peace but israels destruction. Hamas is like isis. Hamas is like al qaeda. Hamas is like hezbollah. Hamas is like boca harn. Theres so many others of these groups that reject pluralism, that reject respect of human rights, that use their own people as human shields, that attack indiscriminately civilians. This is part of a larger pattern. What grievance can we solve for hamas . Their grievance is we exist. They dont want a twostate solution. They dont want any state solution. The Israeli Military added to the uncertainty today to the fate of one of its shoulders and to hamas claim it captured an israeli soldier. Israeli initially denied the claim but then said they were looking into it. Today saying they still have not identified the remains of a soldier killed in an atock tack sunday. Israeli media reported the soldier is missing and presumed dead. The former secretary of state Madeleine Albright shares her thoughts about the situation in the middle east and you may be surprised about what shes saying about israels reaction. But first, the latest on the investigation into flight mh17. The planes black boxes have been handed over to investigators. So what happens now . To pitch in for an industrialsized smoker. Before earning 1 cash back everywhere, every time. And 2 back at the grocery store. Even before he got 3 back on gas. All with no hoops to jump through. Norm used his bankamericard cash rewards credit card to enter the bbq masters invitational. Where he smoked 40 pounds of ribs and the competition. Thats the satisfaction of rewarding connections. Apply online or at a bank of america near you. Hooking up the country whelping business run trains they haul everything, safely and on time. Tracks they connect the factories built along the lines. And that means jobs, lots of people, making lots and lots of things. Lets get your business rolling now, everybody sing. Norfolk southern whats your function . Helping this big country move ahead as one Norfolk Southern hows that function . Ive got a nice long life ahead. Big plans. So when i found out medicare doesnt pay all my medical expenses, i got a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. [ male announcer ] if youre eligible for medicare, you may know it only covers about 80 of your part b medical expenses. The rest is up to you. Call now and find out about an aarp Medicare Supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare Insurance Company. Like all standardized Medicare Supplement insurance plans, it could save you in outofpocket medical costs. Call now to request your free decision guide. Ive been with my doctor for 12 years. Now i know ill be able to stick with him. [ male announcer ] youll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. Plus, there are no networks, and virtually no referrals needed. See why millions of people have already enrolled in the only Medicare Supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp. Dont wait. Call now. Just a short while ago, president obama visited the Dutch Embassy in washington. He signed a book of condolences forperished on flight 17. The president pledged to work with the dutch to find justice for the victims. Now to latest developments on the downing of the plane. The 282 bodies that have been recovered so far have been taken in refrigerated train cars to kharkiv. They were handed over to dutch authorities who are expected to fly them home some time tomorrow and begin the very grim task of identification. Prorussian rebels in ukraine have controlled the crash site. They have handed over the planes two black boxes to dutch authorities. They will be taken to london where accident investigators will go through them, including a u. S. Investigator from the ntsb, the National Transportation safety board. Meanwhile, evidence continues to grow that the plane was taken out by a surface to air missile. The u. S. Says it has tracked the missiles trajectory and its point of dent nation with the plane. And new video also appears to show wreckage from mh17 pepp peppered with shrapnel holes. Australias Prime Minister says he had enough of the way the crash site and the investigation was being handled. After the crime, comes the coverup. What we have seen is evidence tampering on an industrial scale. And obviously that has to stop. Lets bring in Nick Paton Walsh joining us on the phone from khakrkv. The bodies of most of the victims have been handed over to dutch officials. Ways happening now and what happens next . Well, im standing outside the factory where many of these bodies well, all the bodies as far as were aware, have been brought by train this morning. Now the dutch officials in there, together with u. N. , are overseeing all the various International Groups who have come here to assist in this operation. Beginning with the delicate task of taking the bodies from the refrigerated train and being put into the coffins which will be floeb back to the netherlands. Thats not going to start happening until some point tomorrow. I spoke to a Malaysian Security official here. He suggested it may happen a little earlier. And he also went on to say he traveled on the train with the bodies from the crash site through here to kharkiv and 282 of them have been presented by the separatists in what he referred to as in good condition. As they were actually mostly intact. He mentioned there were 87 body parts handed over as well. That turns out to be the case it provides potentially a quicker easier job for many of the officials combing through, trying to work out who these people certainly are, and that may bring some solace to relatives looking to bury them soon, wolf. 298 people were aboard that plane. What are officials there where you are telling you about the overall investigation . The investigation here is just beginning to get under way. There are malaysian investigators at the site, as you m