Omani Pilot's Hijacking Attempt Tests Israel-Gulf Relations

An investigation is underway into the motives of an Omani pilot who attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight. Israeli security services hope to gain direct access to the investigation materials to draw conclusions and prevent future incidents. The article notes a failure in the pilot's background checks, regardless of whether he acted alone or was part of a larger plot, or if he was a radicalized jihadist or mentally unstable.

Media in the UAE and Saudi Arabia have cautiously referred to the incident as a "security event" rather than terrorism, with limited details emerging despite its global coverage. The incident poses a significant reputational risk to the UAE, which has prided itself on high security and facilitated numerous flights to Israel during the ongoing conflict. The article draws parallels to past incidents of pilot madness and the lingering trauma of 9/11, noting the immediate spread of conspiracy theories on social media blaming Israel, the Mossad, and the CIA.

Saudi Arabia treated the incident with humanitarian consideration but also set clear boundaries for Prime Minister Netanyahu, who reportedly sought a photo opportunity with Israeli military aircraft landing in Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Bin Salman, in a speech that did not mention the plane incident, strongly condemned Israeli actions in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank, reaffirming Saudi commitment to Palestinian rights.

Separately, the article reports on the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, ending over two decades of military presence. While many Iraqis celebrated the departure, viewing it as a victory for the "axis of resistance," others fear a security vacuum and the strengthening of pro-Iranian militias. The Iraqi Prime Minister faces the challenge of consolidating security under the Iraqi army, which has previously struggled against ISIS.

In Turkey, comedian Deniz Göktaş was convicted and sentenced to 19 months and 10 days for insulting President Erdogan, whom he called a "shy dictator." He was released pending appeal, having already served 88 days. The case highlights ongoing concerns about freedom of expression in Turkey.

Finally, the article recalls Operation Wooden Leg, an Israeli Air Force raid on PLO headquarters in Tunisia on October 1, 1985. The mission, approximately 2,300 km from Israel, targeted Yasser Arafat's office and PLO facilities in response to a series of deadly attacks. While the operation achieved its military objectives and deterred some Arab states, it also led to international condemnation and a subsequent wave of retaliatory terror attacks in Europe.