Israeli President Herzog Criticized Over FlyDubai Passenger Awards

President of Israel Isaac Herzog has faced criticism for his decision to recommend awarding passengers who displayed bravery during an incident on a FlyDubai flight. Military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi of the Maariv newspaper stated that the President overlooked Tali Mans, who, according to Ashkenazi, was the first to recognize the danger.

Herzog attended an event commemorating the FlyDubai incident, which involved a flight from Dubai to Israel. He spoke with passengers Yaniv Hayon, Shota Musaev, Tzvika Manes, and Assaf Rajwan, identifying them as having shown heroism during a hijacking and a stabbing attack. The President announced his intention to recommend these four individuals for the Presidential Medal for Civilian Valor.

However, Ashkenazi argued that Tali Mans was unfairly forgotten. He claimed she was the first to realize something dangerous was happening in the cockpit, convinced the British pilot to open the door, and prompted her husband Tzvika to act. "Mr. President, wake up," Ashkenazi wrote, emphasizing that Mans' heroism also deserves recognition.

The military correspondent also suggested that the President should have waited for the initial investigation to conclude before making public statements about awards. Ashkenazi pointed out that the circumstances of the event require thorough examination, including security measures, passenger and crew screening, and the performance of relevant Ministry of Transportation units.

Ashkenazi further commented on the actions of the IDF, noting an increase in the military's responses to accusations against its soldiers. He cited the publication of a list of 150 individuals the army considers terrorists, who were reportedly presented as journalists working in Gaza by international media.

Separately, Ashkenazi criticized the situation involving soldiers of the 401st Armored Brigade. He stated that soldiers who had been in combat for nearly three years were denied leave before their demobilization by brigade commander Yoav Schneider. Ashkenazi deemed the commander's actions unfair and urged the IDF leadership to focus not only on battlefield operations but also on their treatment of soldiers. He concluded that such situations highlight the need for closer oversight of command decisions and the protection of soldiers' rights.