Gadi Eisenkot Blames Netanyahu Government for Ben Gurion Airport Chaos

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, sharply criticized the Netanyahu government and the Transportation Minister on Thursday following severe operational chaos at Ben Gurion Airport. He described the disruption, which occurred on one of the busiest days of the year with around 100,000 passengers expected, as a reflection of the government's failed management culture rather than an isolated incident. Eisenkot said, "The chaos at Ben Gurion Airport is not a one-off event but a mirror of Netanyahu government's poor management, disorder, lack of leadership, and irresponsibility."

The airport's operations management declared a "crisis event" due to operational difficulties including problems with unloading and loading planes and a shortage of parking spots. Internal communications revealed a halt in check-in processes, and reports indicated a strike by screening teams. Passengers experienced long waits for luggage and unusual congestion at entry points.

Eisenkot accused the government of showing insufficient concern for citizens' difficulties, stating, "There is a real lack of interest by the Israeli government in the lives of its citizens and especially a lack of leadership." He directly criticized the Transportation Minister for her absence during the crisis, saying, "A responsible transportation minister would be on her way to the airport now, convening an emergency meeting to immediately address the tens of thousands stranded at Ben Gurion." Eisenkot concluded by calling for a change in leadership, emphasizing that Israeli citizens deserve governance that takes responsibility and effectively manages critical systems from the ground up.