Israel Demands Stricter Checks on Airline Crews Amid Security Concerns

Israel's Ministry of Transportation is pushing for a series of measures to prevent a security scenario similar to the "Fly Dubai 2" incident, following the entry of 1,240 airline crew members from hostile countries into Israel since the beginning of the year. Minister of Transportation Miri Regev has requested preliminary checks for aircrew and passengers, lists of individuals from at-risk countries, and updated security protocols.

The urgency stems from alarming data revealing that since January, 1,240 aircrew members, including pilots, have entered Israel from countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and Oman. This prompted an urgent discussion by the Intelligence Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, initiated by its chairman, MK Boaz Bismuth.

Regev's proposed immediate steps include a one-time "aviation visa" for all passengers and crew, to be filled out 48 hours in advance and approved by the Population Authority. Additionally, the Mossad and Shin Bet will provide a list of security-threat destinations, with individuals arriving from these locations undergoing checks by the Transportation Ministry's security department. This list is expected by Thursday, with all airlines to be updated accordingly.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance is to allocate NIS 40 million and 10 positions to the Transportation Ministry for handling chartered flights from low-threat destinations. Security guidelines will be updated and disseminated to all airlines. A follow-up urgent meeting involving all relevant parties is scheduled for Thursday.

Regev stated that some of these proposals had previously been rejected by the National Security Council. Following the subcommittee's discussion, Bismuth commented that the face of Israeli civil aviation would change, emphasizing that all relevant parties must complete internal checks and provide clear answers, with the committee to continue monitoring the findings.