Israel-UAE Relations Unaffected by Flydubai Incident, Ambassador States
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel-UAE ties remain strong despite Flydubai flight incident, says ambassador.
- Ambassador Shelley cited warm Emirati reactions and cooperation post-attack.
- UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are jointly investigating the co-pilot's actions.
- Israel seeks to determine if the attacker acted alone or was directed.
- The incident may lead to broader flight crew screening reviews.
Yossi Shelley, Israel's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, stated that a recent "worrying incident" aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv has not weakened the strategic relationship between Israel and the UAE. He emphasized that the UAE authorities' response demonstrated the strength of ties established under the Abraham Accords. Shelley made these remarks in an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Friday, noting he received "very warm reactions" from Emirati officials and the public following the September 30 incident. On that date, a co-pilot attacked the captain on flight FZ1073, leading to a sudden, sharp descent before passengers and crew intervened to regain control.
Shelley described feeling "a great welcome and warmth" alongside "concern" regarding the incident. He indicated that the reactions from senior Emirati officials reinforced his belief in the deep relationship between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi. As an example, he recounted calling a prominent Emirati business executive at 1 AM to inquire about flight statuses and receiving a call back by 1:10 AM, highlighting the responsiveness.
An investigation into the Flydubai incident is underway, involving authorities from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, was transferred to the UAE on Thursday for further inquiry. Shelley expressed confidence in the UAE's handling of the investigation, stating, "The UAE is conducting the investigation and doing everything necessary, and we trust them." Israel is preparing to send its own investigation team.
Shelley stressed the importance of determining whether the attacker acted alone or was sent by an external entity, noting that "we have a very great interest, as does everyone, in knowing whether the person was motivated by someone, or acted alone." He added that the incident should prompt a broader review of screening mechanisms for flight crews, particularly for flights connecting countries experiencing political or military tensions.
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