Ministry Tender Contradicts Regev's Claims on Foreign Pilot Monitoring
Despite Transport Minister Miri Regev's claims that her ministry cannot monitor foreign pilots, records show a security tender was recently issued following a 2023 technological collapse.
Despite claims by Minister of Transport Miri Regev that her ministry lacks the capability and mandate to monitor foreign pilots entering Israel, it was revealed that the ministry published a tender for such a system six months ago.
Security Tender and Operational Gaps
The tender relates to an aviation security operational system aimed at conducting preliminary security assessments for flights entering Israeli airspace to mitigate terror threats. According to the document, a critical part of this process involves a 24/7 operational array. Sources indicate that a similar system operated by the ministry's security division collapsed technologically in 2023 and was never restored, with a replacement tender issued only three years later.
Performing security assessments and approvals for foreign flights and aircrews entering or crossing Israeli airspace is an official mandate of the ministry's security and cyber division.
Criticisms and State Comptroller Reports
In 2024, the State Comptroller published a severe report regarding security failures concerning foreign flights. Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben-Zaken and Civil Aviation Authority head Shmuel Zakay declined to detail how the ministry addressed the findings. While the ministry claims it cannot independently collect background data on foreign pilots, industry experts note that several Israeli firms specialize in automated background checks and threat intelligence using artificial intelligence for government and corporate clients.
The Ministry of Transport has not yet responded to these findings.
