Flydubai incident enters Netanyahu’s security message before Israeli vote
The motive behind the apparent attempted hijacking remains unclear as Netanyahu links it to threats against Israelis. Opposition leader Yair Lapid says it was not raised in a security briefing.
Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a reported flight-deck altercation. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain before passengers and crew subdued him; another pilot landed the aircraft safely. The incident is under investigation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked the event to threats against Israelis and alleged Islamist radicalisation. He pointed to Iran and its proxies, while saying it was too early to establish who was behind the apparent attempted hijacking. No motive or connection to Iran has been established.
Netanyahu’s remarks come ahead of a parliamentary election later this month. Earlier in the week, he warned that Israel’s enemies might attack before the vote, a warning opponents dismissed as unsupported. Defence Minister Israel Katz called the plane incident an “attempted jihadist terror attack”.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the incident had not featured in a security briefing he received from Netanyahu on Tuesday night. That challenges any suggestion that the event had been anticipated in the warning.
Analysts differ on the political consequences. Former government adviser Daniel Levy said the incident could shift attention towards possible Iranian involvement, while security analyst Ahron Bregman said he did not expect Netanyahu to gain politically. The investigation into the incident continues.
