Netanyahu Assigned Foreign Flight Security to Transport Ministry Amid Internal Objections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu definitively assigned responsibility for the security of foreign flights to the Ministry of Transport and its security department in mid-2025. This decision followed significant internal opposition within the ministry's security division, citing a lack of resources, authority, and budget. Despite these concerns, no one from the security division or other security agencies formally requested assistance.

A 2021 report by the Shin Bet indicated that the agency had relinquished responsibility for foreign flight security, while the Ministry of Transport had not acted to assume its duties. This issue was highlighted in a secret, classified report by the State Comptroller in May 2024. The Comptroller's findings prompted the Security Cabinet to establish a joint task force in May 2024, involving the National Security Council, the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and the Ministry of Finance, to review civil aviation security.

After a year of work by the National Security Council, disagreements emerged within the Ministry of Transport. The National Security Council and the Shin Bet advocated for the ministry to take full responsibility, a stance supported by the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Shmuel Zakai. However, according to reports, the Director of the Security Department at the Ministry of Transport, Avri Cohen, expressed concerns in internal discussions that the responsibility was too great for the department. He reportedly voiced his objections to Zakai, citing scenarios such as a Syrian immigrant with British residency boarding a plane, making identification difficult. Despite "severe explosions, confrontations, and sharp letters," sources told Galei Tzahal that Regev, Director General Ben Zaken, and the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority did not heed these warnings.

Since Netanyahu's mid-2025 decision, a year and a half has passed without any formal requests for assistance being made to security agencies. Neither the Shin Bet nor the Mossad have expanded their responsibilities or offered support in this area.