Journalist Slams Netanyahu's Handling of Flydubai Incident

Israeli journalist Ilan Lukatch has launched a scathing critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his office following the premier's reception of passengers from a Flydubai flight. The flight had been the scene of an incident where passengers subdued a hijacker, preventing a potential disaster. Lukatch accused Netanyahu's office of prioritizing political optics, suggesting they inquired beforehand about which passengers would be willing to be photographed with the prime minister and who were 'Kaplanists', a term used to refer to anti-government protesters.

In a detailed post on X, Lukatch claimed that Netanyahu was aware of the situation but did not intervene, forcing civilians to resolve the crisis themselves. He implied that the prime minister's decision to greet the passengers was a calculated move to associate himself with their heroism, while also suggesting a political vetting process within his office.

Netanyahu did meet with Yaniv Hayon, one of the passengers who actively participated in neutralizing the hijacker in the cockpit, thanking him and other passengers for their bravery. This incident and Lukatch's reaction add to a broader pattern of media criticism directed at Netanyahu's government and its handling of national events.

Lukatch has a history of sharply criticizing figures associated with the right-wing. Previously, he attacked Moti Castel, political desk chief for Channel 14, for comments Castel made about former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, accusing Eisenkot of fostering 'containment and weakness' in the military. Lukatch responded by calling Castel a 'gut worm' and suggesting his criticism was invalid given his own alleged exemption from military service and Eisenkot's personal loss of a son in combat.