Netanyahu government criticized by opposition parties over terrorist plot by Omani co-pilot on passenger plane from UAE to Israel

Israel's Netanyahu government has come under fire from opposition forces over an incident in which an Omani co-pilot was allegedly plotting a terrorist attack on a passenger plane heading from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Israel. The incident is becoming a political issue ahead of the general election on the 27th of this month.

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The captured co-pilot appears to have been planning to crash into Ben-Gurion International Airport near Israel's commercial capital Tel Aviv. It is believed that there may have been other pilots who are hostile to Israel on board flights to Israel in recent years.

According to AFP news agency, while some have questioned the response of the Ministry of Transport, which has jurisdiction over civil aviation, Transport Minister Regev insists that safety issues related to foreign aircraft are the responsibility of intelligence agencies rather than transport authorities. In response to this move to shift responsibility, former military chief of staff Eisenkot, leader of the opposition party Yashar, who is expected to make a big jump in the general election, quipped, ``In a sane government, the transport minister would have submitted his resignation.''

On the 4th, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the appointment of an investigator to conduct a thorough investigation into the safety of foreign flights bound for Israel. The administration emphasized its stance of reviewing safety measures. However, Lapid, leader of the main opposition party, called it ``a sham investigation.'' Just like when he refused to accept responsibility for the surprise attack by the Islamic group Hamas in 2023, he accused the government of ``getting away with it this time as well.''