Attempted Hijacking of Flydubai Jet Won't Harm Abraham Accords, Says FM

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv on September 30 is not expected to damage the Abraham Accords or relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In an interview with JNS, Sa'ar revealed he had spoken twice with the UAE's Foreign Minister since the incident. He emphasized that the desire to strengthen ties is mutual.

Sa'ar described the attempt to crash the plane, which carried 174 passengers, as primarily an effort to murder Israelis, but also an act directed against the UAE since the flight originated in Dubai. He anticipates that once the full details are clarified and new security measures are implemented, the UAE will resume its role as a key aviation hub for Israelis.

"There were gaps here that we need to learn from," Sa'ar commented. He also noted in a separate interview with Makor Rishon that the number of embassies in Jerusalem has increased from five to eight, with plans for ten by October. Additionally, five new Israeli embassies have been established globally during his tenure, with requests for more, including from North Macedonia.

The article also touches on the background of the alleged hijacker, identified as Omani co-pilot Al-Hamami, who was previously removed from a flight in Oman due to radicalization concerns. Despite this, he was later hired by Flydubai after security checks focused primarily on his criminal record. Four countries are currently investigating his motives.