As part of Austrian initiative for Christmas, flaming torch lit in Church of Nativity in Bethlehem and transported on commercial flight under supervision of Aviation specialist. Torch to make its way to pope, US President Obama

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'Peace Torch' begins world journey

As part of Austrian initiative for Christmas, flaming torch lit in Church of Nativity in Bethlehem and transported on commercial flight under supervision of Aviation specialist. Torch to make its way to pope, US President Obama

Yoav Zitun

Catholic initiative hopes to bring people closer together before Christmas: The Peace Torch was flown out of Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday night on the passenger cabin of a scheduled Austrian Airlines flight and was welcomed with a celebratory reception in Vienna.

This is the first time that the complicated procedure of transporting a flaming torch is carried out on a commercial flight, which was made possible after receiving a number of special permits.   The torch travelled in the back seats of the flights economy class, in a lantern-style apparatus while an aviation expert, himself a pilot supervised.   The Peace Torch project which was organized by Austrian State television, received special permission from the Israeli Civic Aviation Authority under the leadership of Major General (Res.) Giora Rom.   Lighting fires on airplanes became illegal a few years ago which meant that Olympic Torch procedures were considered special exceptions, and were never carried on commercial flights.   The Peace Torch project was lead by 500 Austrian pilgrims who visited Israel last week in hopes of meeting and getting to know the Jewish people, including Holocaust survivors from Austria. The Torch is set to pass through 30 countries around the world. It will also be making a visit to Pope Benedict in the Vatican and President Barak Obama in Washington DC.

Daniela Epstein, who is coordinating the pilgrims' trip on behalf of the Sarel tourism office, explained to Ynet that the aim of the Peace Torch is to reach out and bring people from around the world closer together.

"The group was very excited by its visit to Israel; the torch was lit by a 10-year-old Croatian," she said.

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