Media Figure Amnon Levy Sparks Debate Over Dubai Flight Incident

A public discussion surrounding a recent incident on a "Fly Dubai" flight has escalated on social media, with former Channel 13 presenter Amnon Levy igniting controversy. Levy posted on X, formerly Twitter, criticizing the media's immediate labeling of the event as a "terror attack" and taking aim at Israeli news outlets. He expressed surprise that major international newspapers like The New York Times were hesitant to classify the dramatic mid-air event as terrorism, noting that the Times stated it only publishes confirmed facts, not speculation. Levy contrasted this with what he termed "gutter press" in Israel, suggesting they failed to grasp this concept.

Haaretz police and crime correspondent Josh Breiner responded sharply to Levy's remarks. Breiner argued that a pilot stabbing his co-pilot, attempting to crash the plane with Israelis on board, constituted an act of terror, not mere speculation or conspiracy. Levy countered that while the action was violent, the term "terror" should be reserved for acts with a nationalistic context, affiliation with terror organizations or states, and a clear motive to kill Jews. He maintained that until such motives are clear, the New York Times' cautious approach was justified.

The exchange drew numerous reactions from public figures. Actor and comedian Orel Tzabari sarcastically commented on the situation, questioning how naive one could be. Model and content creator Natalie Dadon also reacted strongly, questioning what was wrong with people and suggesting a need to check the air conditioning in studios, implying prolonged exposure to harmful substances.

The incident involved an alleged attack by a pilot on his co-pilot during a Fly Dubai flight. The debate centers on whether the act should be immediately classified as terrorism, with Levy advocating for caution and Breiner insisting on the terror designation.