Prime Minister Netanyahu to Skip Israeli Air Force Wings Ceremony After Recent Booing Incidents

The graduation ceremony for Flight Course 192 will take place this Thursday at Hatzor Airbase, attended by President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and Air Force Commander Major General Omer Tishler. Notably absent from the event is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose name was omitted from the official IDF spokesperson announcement. This marks a rare absence for Netanyahu, following recent incidents where he was booed during the Officer Course graduation at Bahad 1 and the Maccabiah Games opening ceremony.

Graduates of Flight Course 192 have completed three years and three months of training, which began just months before the October 7 terror attack and continued throughout the ongoing conflict. During the ceremony, the new pilots will receive their wings and officer ranks, officially joining the operational aircrew of the Israeli Air Force. This course is the largest in recent years, boasting approximately 30% more graduates than the average of recent cohorts.