Two Senior Israeli Transport Ministry Officials Under Criminal Investigation

A criminal investigation has been launched against two senior officials in Israel's Ministry of Transport, Avri Cohen and Dvir Rubinstein, in connection with a lapse in security procedures concerning a Flydubai flight. The probe centers on allegations of conflicts of interest stemming from outside employment held by both men while they were responsible for aviation oversight.

Cohen, who headed the Ministry's senior department for emergency, security, information, and cyber, also served concurrently as an "atudai" security officer for an Israeli airline operating abroad. Rubinstein, the director of the aviation security operations center, reportedly advised foreign airlines. Both were tasked with supervising the aviation sector.

The investigation was prompted by a report revealing that the Ministry's security department was responsible for the security of flights entering Israel. This came to light after it was discovered that the co-pilot on the Flydubai flight was an Omani citizen, a country with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations. Following the incident, the Ministry issued a directive requiring airlines to ensure flight crew members are not citizens of countries without diplomatic ties to Israel.

Rubinstein had previously spoken to the media on behalf of the Ministry regarding the security lapse and the attempted attack on the Flydubai flight. Investigators are now examining whether his concurrent work for foreign airlines created a conflict of interest with his supervisory role at the Ministry.

The Ministry of Transport stated that Rubinstein provides services to the Ministry through outsourcing and is not a state employee. It added that his other professional activities were approved by law and conducted outside his working hours with the Ministry.