Fears arise: Israeli flights to Dubai may be suspended over security standards
According to an Israeli political affairs commentator, there are fears arising over the suspension of Israeli flights to Dubai due to Dubai Airport's security standards.
Barak Ravid, a political affairs commentator for the Israeli Walla! website, quoted Israeli officials as saying, "Due to the dispute between the Public Security Agency and the security authorities in Dubai regarding the security of Israeli Airlines flights, there are fears that Israeli Airlines flights to Dubai will be suspended in the coming days."
1 / בכירים ישראלים אמרו לי כי בשל מחלוקת בין השב"כ לבין רשויות הביטחון בדובאי לגבי אבטחת הטיסות של חברות התעופה הישראליות קיים חשש שטיסות של חברות תעופה ישראליות לדובאי יופסקו בימים הקרובים. אתר התיירות פספורט ניוז דיווח לראשונה על הסוגיה
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) February 5, 2022
Apparently, the Prime Minister's office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Shin Bet are having a go at solving the problem through talks with Abu Dhabi.
The officials said that if no agreement is reached regarding security arrangements, Israeli flights to Dubai will be suspended on Tuesday, February 8. If that is to happen, then this will lead to the cancellation of any flights with Fly Dubai and Emirates Airlines to "Israel" - in short, chaos.
The Shin Bet responded, saying that in recent months, security and protection differences have been discovered between Dubai and Israeli authorities, namely with the Israeli aviation security service. Dubai's security standards, as explained by the Shin Bet, obstruct the work of Israeli security over its airlines. The dispute is overprotection standards adopted by Dubai airport, and "not political matters".
According to the Shin Bet, “At this stage, efforts are continuing to resolve disputes with the authorities in Dubai and reach understandings that enable the Israeli security authorities to realize its responsibilities to protect Israeli aviation. At the same time, if Israeli flights are cessated, the alternative to transfer flights from Israel to Abu Dhabi will be studied."