Israel Proposes New 'Visa Procedure' for Foreign Flights Amid Security Concerns
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israel's Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, has proposed a new "visa procedure" for foreign flights following a security incident. Airlines would submit passenger and crew data 48 hours in advance, with high-risk destinations requiring Mossad or Shin Bet approval. Regev is also seeking funding for Israeli charter flight security and pushing for rapid implementation of the new rules, aiming for them to start by Sunday.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Minister of Transportation proposed a "visa procedure" for foreign flights requiring advance passenger and crew data submission.
- Flights from high-risk destinations like Dubai would need Mossad or Shin Bet approval for passenger and crew lists.
- The minister is seeking budget and staff for improved security on Israeli charter flights.
- New security directives are expected from the Ministry of Transportation, security division, and Shin Bet.
- The proposed procedures aim for rapid implementation, potentially starting by Sunday.
- Responsibility for foreign flight security is complicated by inter-ministerial data access limitations.
Following a security incident involving a Flydubai flight, Israel's Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, is pushing for a significant overhaul of security protocols for international flights. In a letter to the Head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, Regev proposed a new "visa procedure" requiring airlines to submit passenger and crew manifests 48 hours before arrival. For flights from destinations with higher security risks, such as Dubai, passenger and crew lists would be sent to the Ministry of Transportation's security division for approval by the Mossad or Shin Bet.
Regev also urged the Ministry of Finance to allocate the necessary budget and staffing for enhanced security on Israeli charter flights, a matter previously agreed upon by the cabinet in December but not yet implemented. The Ministry of Transportation, its security division, and the Shin Bet are expected to issue new security directives based on these proposed procedures. The minister aims for a rapid implementation, requesting a list of high-risk destinations and a decision on which security agency will vet the lists by Thursday, with the new procedures ideally taking effect by Sunday.
The article highlights the complex issue of responsibility for foreign flight security. While government decisions assign this responsibility to the Ministry of Transportation, its current procedures rely on the security checks of the country of origin. A 2022 law grants Israeli tax authorities a database of passenger information accessible to the Shin Bet, Mossad, and Israel Police, but other ministries, including Transportation, can only submit queries. The Ministry of Transportation claims it has not received information from this database and lacks the authority to review crew names, despite having the option to request such data.
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