Israel Government Criticized Over "FlyDubai" Flight Incident Response

Eliab Betito, head of the Civil Information Staff, has sharply criticized the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their response to a security incident on a "FlyDubai" flight. Betito stated that seven hours after an attempted terror attack on the plane, the government remained silent, allowing international media to reframe the event as a mere passenger brawl. He argued that this official silence enables the world to downplay the severity of the incident and absolve the perpetrators of responsibility.

Betito emphasized that while his staff works around the clock to counter false narratives online, the lack of an official state voice severely damages their efforts, calling it an "informational bankruptcy" that allows terrorism to win the battle for public perception. He demanded that the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and the entire information apparatus "wake up immediately" and issue official statements in both English and Hebrew, asserting that civilian information operatives cannot repeatedly substitute for the state.

Prime Minister Netanyahu later commented on the incident, stating that Israel is in continuous contact with relevant parties to ensure the safety and return of passengers. He also addressed the possibility of further threats, assuring the public that ongoing situation assessments are being conducted and updates will be provided.

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the "serious incident" on the FlyDubai plane was a "jihadist attempted attack." He credited the successful foiling of the attack to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and regained control of the aircraft. Katz added that initial information suggests the attacker's sole intention was to crash the plane with all its passengers.