Not to turn the discussion off track (I don't want to start an argument) but I wonder whether there are political considerations at stake too -- I have a feeling that even if an alliance would be willing to accept El Al as a full member, they might find themselves on the receiving end of a boycott. But perhaps since codeshares and reciprocal FF-mileage earning and burning are common between LY and its partners, and have not elicited any boycott or backlash, full alliance membership wouldn't do so either.