Israeli Minister Eli Cohen Discusses Election Delays, Dubai Incident, and Oct 7th Inquiry

Energy Minister Eli Cohen addressed the possibility of delaying elections, stating that the answer was not definitive. He also voiced support for Defense Minister Israel Katz's assessment that the Fly Dubai incident was an act of terrorism, citing intelligence from AMAN and the Mossad. Cohen indicated that while the full picture is not yet clear, he views the incident as terrorism, though he is unsure if the perpetrator acted alone.

Regarding security coordination meetings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Opposition Chairman Yair Lapid, Cohen stated he believes there was no prior intelligence about a pilot intending to cause harm. He acknowledged the general possibility of terror attacks against Israelis abroad, but noted that if such an event were planned in Dubai, the Mossad would have prevented it.

Looking ahead to the three-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks, Cohen reflected on the difficult day and the nation's resilience. He reiterated the government's responsibility to investigate the failures that led to the events, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, multi-year review to prevent future occurrences. Cohen explained that a state commission of inquiry has not yet been formed because a consensus commission, perceived as non-partisan by all segments of the public, is desired. He suggested that such a commission, acceptable to both the right and left, would likely be established after the upcoming elections.