Israeli Aviation Security Official Accused of Conflict of Interest

Dvir Rubinstein, who serves as the Director of Aviation Security at Israel's Ministry of Transport and is responsible for overseeing foreign airlines, has simultaneously been receiving payment from Flydubai for providing training services. This arrangement appears to present a severe conflict of interest, as Rubinstein is tasked with regulating the very airlines for which he provides private consultations and training.

Rubinstein's role at the Ministry of Transport includes granting security approvals and permits for all foreign airlines and flights entering Israel. He also advises airlines worldwide that operate flights to Israel. This creates a situation where he travels to the Emirates to train airlines like Emirates and Flydubai, only to return to Israel and subsequently oversee them.

Further details emerged from a lecture given by Rubinstein regarding lessons learned from the September 11th attacks. In the lecture, he noted that the United States requires advance submission of foreign pilot lists for background checks before flights. This highlights a potential security lapse, suggesting that such vetting procedures were not adequately considered or implemented in his dual role.

Rubinstein also operates a private company named "Dvir" and works as a senior lecturer in security at Sigma 005 College, which is managed by the police. He reportedly is not a state employee, despite his critical role in aviation security oversight.

Neither Rubinstein nor the Ministry of Transport provided a response to these revelations.