Israel's Finance Minister Demands Harsh Response to Dubai Flight Attack Attempt

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a severe response to the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, emphasizing that the intention behind the act should dictate the reaction, not the outcome. "The State of Israel must address the intent and not the results," Smotrich stated. "Whoever tried to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis must pay as if he murdered. He and any country or terror organization that sent him."

Smotrich stressed that the fact the incident concluded without disaster should not influence Israel's response. He offered thanks for the "great miracle of salvation" but concluded with a strong message: "But it is our duty, I will pursue my enemies and destroy them, and I will not turn back until they are consumed."

There is a growing assessment that the incident, which occurred recently, was an act of terrorism. Reports indicate that the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the plane with its passengers. The flight crew, with the assistance of Israeli passengers, managed to overpower the co-pilot and safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.