Lapid Denies Security Briefing Mentioned FlyDubai Incident

Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated Wednesday that a security briefing he received from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the previous evening did not mention any potential threats comparable to the incident aboard a FlyDubai flight. Lapid emphasized that "nothing resembling, even remotely, the air incident this morning was mentioned during the security briefing with the Prime Minister. Nothing similar, nothing that evokes it, not even the slightest hint."

This statement follows the diversion of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a co-pilot allegedly attempted to hijack the aircraft. Israeli officials reported that passengers and crew members subdued the suspect, averting a major catastrophe.

Lapid accused supporters of the Prime Minister of attempting to link the flight incident to Netanyahu's warnings the day before. During a visit to Tel Nof Airbase, Netanyahu had stated he had "indications" that Israel's enemies might attempt attacks as elections approach. Lapid criticized this, calling it "cheap politics at the expense of Israel's security" and labeling those spreading the narrative as "a band of irresponsible people."

Following their meeting, Lapid had urged the public not to panic while respecting the confidentiality of the information presented. The Prime Minister's office, however, maintained that alerts regarding potential attacks on various fronts before the elections were detailed during the meeting.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the suspect to be punished as if he had succeeded in his alleged attempt to crash the plane and kill 180 Israelis, stating he should face consequences "as if he had killed them," along with any state or terrorist organization that sent him. However, current information does not indicate the suspect acted on behalf of a foreign entity.

Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar praised the passengers who intervened, crediting their composure with saving many lives. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the precise circumstances and motivations of the co-pilot involved.