Netanyahu Softens Stance on Dubai Flight Threat After Clashes
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu denies specific warning about Fly Dubai plane hijacking.
- Senior security official corroborates lack of specific intelligence.
- Lapid disputes claims of a specific threat in his briefing.
- Investigations into potential foreign or Iranian involvement continue.
- Saudi Arabia praised for handling the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a CNN interview that there was no specific warning regarding the hijacking of the Fly Dubai plane, a day after a public dispute with opposition leader Yair Lapid over the security briefing Lapid received prior to the incident. A senior security official corroborated Netanyahu's statement, clarifying that while general threats of foreign terror activity were known, there was "not a shred of intelligence" about a specific plot to hijack or bring down a passenger plane.
The official also noted that initial investigations by the Mossad have not yet found direct Iranian involvement in the incident, though the probe is ongoing. The controversy erupted after Netanyahu warned of security threats ahead of elections, prompting Lapid to request a briefing. While Lapid confirmed he was informed of a "certain security risk abroad," he insisted it was a general, long-standing threat unrelated to the Dubai flight scenario.
Lapid accused Netanyahu's office of attempting to retroactively link the general warnings to the specific hijacking attempt. He questioned whether Netanyahu knew of a specific hijacking threat and concealed it, or if he was unaware, questioning the purpose of the briefing in either case. The senior security official praised Saudi Arabia's handling of the incident after the plane landed on its territory, calling their actions "responsible."
Read the original at Maariv
