Lieberman Demands Shin Bet Chief Resign Over Dubai Air Incident

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has called for the resignation of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief in the wake of the "Dubai Air incident." Speaking to N12, Lieberman stated that in a proper country, the Shin Bet head would resign the day after such a significant security lapse. He criticized the lack of accountability, saying, "No one is taking responsibility."

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers Efrat Reiten (The Democrats) and Ram Ben Barak (Together) have formally requested that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara investigate the incident. In a letter to the Attorney General, they cited emerging findings that suggest "the possibility of gross negligence." The MKs argued that relevant authorities possessed the means to vet flight crew members and had access to a legal mechanism for gathering and analyzing information, which should have revealed the co-pilot's Omani citizenship. They contend that no action was taken despite this capability.

The lawmakers also referenced a 2024 warning from the State Comptroller regarding the need to clarify responsibility for the security of foreign flights. They emphasized that the fact the potential disaster was averted does not absolve the state from conducting a thorough investigation into the failures and the responsibilities of all involved parties.

Under current procedures, foreign airlines are supposed to submit their flight crew lists to the National Passenger Screening Center, part of the Tax Authority. However, security bodies, including the Mossad and Shin Bet, also have access to these lists. The Ministry of Transportation, which is legally responsible for enforcing safety standards with foreign airlines, claims it was unaware of this obligation or that it was required to receive the crew lists.