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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Entertainment
Olivia Blair

Bar Refaeli's wedding sparks national controversy in Israel

Bar Refaeli requested a no-fly zone over her wedding in Israel (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

A row between a government minister and the civil aviation authority (CAA) in Israel has broken out over supermodel, Bar Refaeli’s wedding.

Refaeli, 30, who got married on Thursday to businessman Adi Ezra had put in a request with the CAA to have a no-fly zone over the location of her wedding.

The reason behind the request was reportedly due to the couple wishing to have two helicopters and a hot-air ballon fly above the location in Northern Israel to take pictures of the nuptials.

The application was granted by the CAA, however the transport minister, Yisrael Katz who previously criticised the request, then threatened to fire the official if the organisation did not reverse their decision.

According to the BBC, Mr Katz told CAA chief, Joel Feldschuh: “If the skies are not open above Bar Refaeli’s wedding – you will be removed from your post.”

Mr Katz had previously warned: “The skies belong to all Israeli citizens and we can’t offer special treatment for this event over other events.”

The Jerusalem Post reported that the skies did remain open during the ceremony.

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Refaeli, who is a native of Israel and the country’s highest earning model, featured in campaigns for numerous brands and magazine covers during her career. She is also the host of The X Factor Israel.

In 2010, a no-fly zone was declared over the wedding of Chelsea Clinton – the daughter of former US president Bill and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and her husband Marc Mezvinsky in New York.

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