Flydubai Incident Highlights Netanyahu's Political Appointments and Lack of Accountability

A recent incident involving a Flydubai flight has once again exposed what the author describes as the failures of Benjamin Netanyahu's governments, characterized by political appointments, a lack of professionalism, and an evasion of responsibility. Instead of celebrating the passengers who showed resourcefulness and saved lives, the event should be investigated as if it had ended in disaster, according to the article.

The author criticizes the advancement of officials despite past failures, citing Amir Ohana's promotion to Knesset Speaker following a state commission of inquiry that found personal responsibility in a disaster that claimed 45 lives. The article argues that in the wake of the "biblical scale" October 7th failures, which would typically lead to a government's resignation, Netanyahu has further distanced himself from accountability, stating "everyone will have to give answers. I too," without providing any himself.

This approach is exemplified by what the author terms "Miri-Regevism," evident in the Flydubai incident. The article alleges that political appointees in the Ministry of Transportation's security division were negligent, allegedly engaging in outside work without proper authorization and neglecting their duty to protect lives. Despite approximately 1,200 aircrew members from enemy states landing in Israel annually, the ministry, under Minister Miri Regev, allegedly failed to adequately address flight security, with Regev reportedly focused on foreign visits and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Both the Shin Bet and the National Security Council reportedly warned repeatedly about the Ministry of Transportation's security division failing in its duties regarding the security of foreign flights. They sent letters, wrote reports, and held discussions, recommending that the Civil Aviation Authority assume responsibility. However, Regev allegedly insisted on retaining the ten allocated positions within her ministry, which could be distributed to associates, a decision reportedly approved by Netanyahu.

The article draws a parallel to military officer training, where responsibility is a fundamental concept, emphasizing that officers are accountable for their subordinates' actions. It suggests that even though Regev did not attend the standard officer's course, the concept of responsibility should have been understood. The author also states that the Shin Bet, as Israel's national security agency, cannot claim innocence, as its head was aware of the Ministry of Transportation's security lapses and the vulnerabilities in foreign flight security. The article concludes that the Shin Bet head should have raised a greater alarm than just sending letters, and that the Flydubai flight, though it landed safely, should be investigated as if it had crashed.