Israel Fails to Learn From Past Security Lapses, Analyst Warns

An Israeli analyst is warning that the country has not learned from past security failures, citing the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight 1037 as a prime example. The incident, in which a co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the passenger plane, highlights significant security and intelligence shortcomings, not only within the UAE's aviation sector but also within Israel's own oversight mechanisms.

The analyst points to numerous warning signs regarding the co-pilot, Hammam Al-Hamami, who reportedly displayed extremist religious views and support for violence against Israel and the West. These signs were allegedly noted in Oman and Morocco, yet he was still allowed to pilot a commercial airliner. The article suggests that the UAE government must undertake a major overhaul of its security and intelligence systems and address the management of its state-owned airline.

In Israel, the Ministry of Transport's security apparatus is criticized for a "complete failure" in vetting foreign flight crews. The author argues that such a pilot should have been flagged, and that Israel should not only halt Flydubai flights but also suspend the head of the Ministry of Transport's security division pending investigation. This is compared to the failures leading up to the October 7th attacks.

The piece also questions why Israeli authorities, including the Mossad and Shin Bet, did not have a system in place to identify such threats. It suggests that a dedicated air intelligence unit, similar to post-9/11 initiatives, should track all pilots. While the Shin Bet reportedly identified explosive devices in UAE airport cargo, leading to the suspension of Israeli airline flights, the article questions why this did not prompt a similar halt for UAE flights, thereby endangering Israeli passengers.