Internal Reports Revealed Gaps in Foreign Flight Security Oversight

An internal National Security Council (NSC) document has exposed significant shortcomings, disputes, and gaps in the oversight of foreign flights to Israel, years before a security incident on a Flydubai flight. The report, revealed by Galatz, indicates that as early as March 2025, the NSC warned that the Ministry of Transportation was failing to fulfill its responsibilities and acting contrary to a cabinet decision. This revelation comes shortly after the Flydubai incident and raises serious questions about the division of responsibility between the Ministry of Transportation and security agencies, as well as the vetting process for foreign flight crews entering Israel.

The responsibility for foreign flight security was transferred from the Shin Bet to the Ministry of Transportation in July 2021. A cabinet decision at the time stipulated that the Shin Bet would no longer be responsible, and the Ministry of Transportation would assume control. Previously, the Shin Bet was also responsible for the security screening of foreign flight crews. However, the NSC document explicitly states that the Ministry of Transportation was not acting in accordance with this decision.

These discrepancies were also highlighted in a confidential report by the State Comptroller in May 2024. Following the Comptroller's report, the cabinet decided on May 23, 2024, to establish a team, including the Ministry of Transportation, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and the Ministry of Finance, to examine civil aviation security and propose changes. During this year-long process, a sharp debate emerged over who should bear the ultimate responsibility. The NSC and Shin Bet pushed for the Ministry of Transportation to take on the security role, with the Shin Bet citing a lack of resources and budget.

Despite the NSC's assertion that the Ministry of Transportation should fulfill its responsibility, it noted that the Civil Aviation Authority would require adequate staffing and budget to do so. While the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority supported this move, professional staff within the Ministry of Transportation strongly opposed it. The Director of the Ministry's Security Department argued that the responsibility was too heavy and that a dedicated security body was needed given the threats against Israel. Reports indicate heated arguments and strong disagreements, with professional staff warning the Transportation Minister that accepting the responsibility would be a grave mistake.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ultimately decided in mid-2025 that the responsibility would unequivocally fall on the Ministry of Transportation, Minister Miri Regev, and the ministry's security personnel, despite the internal opposition. However, according to the information obtained by Galatz, even after assuming responsibility, the Ministry of Transportation never requested assistance from the Shin Bet or Mossad for security vetting or investigations of flight crews or passengers. This occurred even though ministry security personnel believed they lacked the necessary tools, authority, and budget. The Shin Bet and Mossad also did not expand their involvement, despite knowing the Ministry of Transportation's limitations.

In practice, oversight to ensure foreign airlines complied with international agreements and did not send crews from countries with which Israel lacks diplomatic relations was not conducted. Flydubai, and likely other airlines, allegedly violated these agreements without enforcement. A law passed in 2023 requires foreign airlines to submit crew details to Israel, with data accessible to agencies like the Mossad and Shin Bet. However, the Ministry of Transportation did not utilize this data for verification, and the Mossad also did not conduct checks on flight crews. This situation has led to a split in responsibility among agencies, with no single entity coordinating foreign flight and aircraft security. As an emergency measure, the Shin Bet and Mossad have temporarily begun monitoring arrivals, including pilots.

The Ministry of Transportation vehemently denied the report, calling the claims "completely false." The ministry stated that its responsibility for foreign aviation security has existed for decades and that its procedures have been approved by the NSC and security bodies without any prior criticism. The ministry also noted that while two NSC-led committees recommended establishing a state authority for aviation security, which the ministry supports, the crew list for the specific Flydubai flight in question was not received, and the security department lacks access to such lists. The ministry stated the incident is under investigation and any violations will be addressed.