Netanyahu accused of exploiting near miss for political gain

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

An attempted attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was thwarted by passengers has ignited a political dispute in Israel, with Prime Minister Netanyahu accused by opponents of exploiting the incident ahead of upcoming elections. While Netanyahu’s allies highlight his security vigilance, the investigation's outcome and lack of concrete intelligence are unlikely to significantly impact voter sentiment in the tightly contested race.

The attempted attack on a Flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv has sparked a heated political debate in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents accusing him of leveraging the incident for electoral advantage ahead of this month’s parliamentary vote.

The incident occurred shortly after Netanyahu issued a security warning on October 24, cautioning that Israel’s enemies might attempt further attacks before the October 27 election. Netanyahu’s allies quickly framed this as evidence of his strong security acumen, while opposition figures contested the timing and nature of the alert.

Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the importance of heeding intelligence-based warnings, stating that both enemies abroad and domestic critics should take such alerts seriously. However, Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, countered that Netanyahu’s briefing did not include any specific information about an aviation threat. Lapid criticized the prime minister’s office for what he described as an attempt to exploit the plane incident politically.

As the passengers returned safely to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on October 25, public attention was focused on their bravery in overpowering the attacker. Despite the celebratory mood, the incident quickly became entwined with the ongoing security discourse surrounding the election campaign. Opinion polls have shown a tightly contested race between Netanyahu’s far-right coalition and a diverse opposition alliance, with neither side holding a decisive lead.

In a CNN interview, Netanyahu acknowledged that there was no precise intelligence regarding the attack on the flight. Analysts suggested the episode temporarily shifted the narrative away from intense scrutiny over the security lapses linked to Hamas’s surprise assault on October 7, which Netanyahu has faced harsh criticism for. Reports had surfaced that the prime minister received advance warnings from Emirati and Egyptian officials about potential Hamas activity, a claim he has strongly denied.

Political analyst Aviv Bushinsky, a former Netanyahu chief of staff, noted that the less public discourse there is about the October 7 attack during the campaign, the more advantageous it is for the incumbent prime minister. “It’s much better for him to be talking about brave Israelis,” Bushinsky said, referencing Netanyahu’s rapid response in greeting the returning passengers and his visible engagement with them.

Meanwhile, Jonatan Urich, an adviser to Netanyahu, condemned opposition leaders—including Lapid, former Defense Minister Gadi Eisenkot, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett—for downplaying the prime minister’s warning. Urich argued that their skepticism could jeopardize Israel’s security.

The broader political consequences of the Flydubai incident remain uncertain and hinge on investigations by the United Arab Emirates into whether the attack was planned or linked to terrorist activity. Experts say that unless major security shortcomings emerge from the inquiry, it is unlikely to significantly alter voter preferences. Pollster Dahlia Scheindlin indicated that public opinion about Netanyahu has remained stable despite the events and that this incident alone probably will not shift the electorate’s allegiance.

Naftali Bennett, now a prominent opposition figure, criticized Netanyahu’s and his aides’ response as evidence of leadership failures. He questioned what concrete actions were taken following the warning about potential threats to aviation security, emphasizing the need for an active protective government rather than alerts alone. “A prime minister is not a siren,” Bennett said. “I don’t need a prime minister to give warnings, I need a government that will protect.”

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.