Israeli prime minister vows to privatize El Al

NEW YORK, New York (Reuters) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday he would push for the privatization of El Al Israel Airlines.

"We are going to privatize it," Barak told Jewish leaders in New York.

He said that as part of El Al's privatization, an 18-year-old Israeli government ban on the national carrier flying on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, would have to end.

"Can someone imagine a modern airline competing while its whole fleet is on the ground for 15 percent of the length of the working week?" Barak asked. "In one word, no one will buy it this way."

Barak has been spearheading a privatization drive of state-run companies in a variety of sectors including telecommunications.

He also has called for a "civil revolution" in Israel to weaken the grip of religious Jewish parties on various aspects of Israeli life.

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