Netanyahu Seizes Photo Op After Passenger Averts Dubai Flight Disaster

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu capitalized on the dramatic averted disaster aboard a Flydubai flight, rushing to Ben Gurion Airport to greet the 174 Israeli passengers, including many children, who had returned safely. The incident, involving a suspected attempt by an Omani co-pilot to crash Flight FZ 1073, provided Netanyahu with a much-needed positive photo opportunity amidst his election campaign.

Netanyahu's campaign team, particularly advisor Yonatan Urich, quickly framed the event politically. Urich claimed Netanyahu had warned of danger the day before, while implying rivals Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett had dismissed the threat. This narrative was immediately challenged by Lapid's advisor, Niv Dimor, who questioned why Netanyahu, if aware of a specific threat, didn't prevent the incident. Former Prime Minister Bennett also criticized Netanyahu, suggesting he acted merely as an alarm system rather than taking concrete action.

The incident occurred as Netanyahu's Likud party has seen a dip in polls, though its bloc has been stabilized by the formation of Ofer Winter's new party, "Am Israel." This stabilization, coupled with gains by the Arab parties, has created a political stalemate, preventing opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot from forming a government. The Flydubai incident, while a PR win for Netanyahu, leaves security questions unanswered regarding the co-pilot's inclusion and the vetting process.

Despite the political maneuvering, the article suggests that the core issues of the election, including the upcoming memorial for the October 7th massacre, remain. The political stalemate might lead to hypothetical scenarios, such as a rotation government between Eisenkot and Netanyahu, potentially involving a presidential pardon for Netanyahu. However, the article dismisses such possibilities as far-fetched, especially given the demand for a state commission of inquiry.