00:00And as the controversies over the Fly Dubai flight simmer and several questions remain unanswered,
00:08joining me now is a very special guest joined by Yossi Shelley, Israel's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
00:16Good to have you, Mr. Shelley, on the show tonight.
00:19How do you see what has happened?
00:22Because the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said that the co-pilot of this Fly Dubai flight,
00:28which was bound for Israel, for Tel Aviv, attempted to carry out a terrorist attack with an axe during the
00:35flight.
00:35So it corroborates what Israel has been saying, that this was a terror attack.
00:40And the pilot, co-pilot, had planned to crash land the plane.
00:44Your response to all that has happened and all that is coming out, sir?
00:51First, Rajdeep, thank you for having me in this morning.
00:55As everybody already knows, so the terrorists try first to kill the co-pilot, the brave guy, Mr. Smith.
01:04And after, they plan to crash the plane.
01:06We don't know if they plan to crash it on Saudi Arabia, Seoul, or in Israel territory, to hit the
01:13building or not.
01:14So these are a lot of speculations that I think in a few days maybe we'll get the answer for
01:21this question regarding the authorities of the U.S. that are investigating him.
01:26Of course, if they think that this is the way to publish it or this will contribute to something.
01:34The fact is that these terrorists planned it carefully and even using the axe and, you know, he didn't draw
01:42something else.
01:43So everything was planned.
01:45And before crashing the plane, he also prayed, maybe, you know.
01:49The investigation shows that the last few months he was radicalized, you know, by people.
01:54He was in a group of Islamists.
01:56So this is one of the steps, you know, there were a few signs, but, you know, sometimes you don't
02:05look about, I don't know, 10,000 pilots or maybe more that are over the world to follow their social
02:14media or whatever.
02:16Maybe from today we have to do this also, the authorities that are responsible, of course.
02:23Right. But, Mr. Ambassador, you know, what details are coming out, what details are coming out is that the co
02:33-pilot was of Omani origin.
02:35Now, Israel has a long-standing agreement with foreign carriers to keep pilots flying from, flying into the country if
02:43they are citizens of nations that don't recognize Israel.
02:46Oman doesn't.
02:47Do you see that as a major security lapse, which have you raised these issues with the UAE authorities?
02:54How did Fly Dubai have an Omani co-pilot on a flight entering your country?
03:00Look, as I've been told, I didn't see the papers and I'm not familiar.
03:05It was all, you know, the small detail between aviation authorities.
03:11And what is, the fact is the Omani guy fly this flight and he shouldn't do it.
03:18And now they are looking with who to blame.
03:22We have other conflict, you know, we have other conflict in the world.
03:26I will not mention them.
03:27You know them very well in Europe, in even here in Asia.
03:32So now you have to check not only the passenger, you have to check the pilots.
03:36It looks like there is another possibility.
03:38So we have to eliminate this one.
03:40And I think that the investigation will show what's happened.
03:44Maybe someone, you know, in the end of the day, all the work is done by people like us.
03:49You are in your TV.
03:50I'm in the...
03:51So there are a lot of a chain of what you call of people that have the responsibility.
03:57Let's see who gives the order, what's happened.
03:59And I'm saying, I'm sure that things will be, will be cleared after.
04:09But have you already raised these issues, Mr. Ambassador, with the...
04:13Is Israel working closely with the authorities in UAE?
04:17Is there going to be a joint investigation?
04:19Does Israel also want to be part of the investigation?
04:23Look, I'm working, you know, when we do the diplomatic work,
04:28you have a few layers.
04:29You have the layer of diplomatic, economic, military, and so.
04:34So in the act of what you call the agency, the military, I'm not involved.
04:40It's not my job.
04:41I know if people are doing...
04:42I assume that there is a collaboration to get best results.
04:47So it's obvious it will be.
04:49I don't know if it was two days before.
04:51But now, in the end of the day, all of us want to have safe flights all over the world,
04:57not just in the UAE.
05:02But does this not entire episode put fear in the eyes of many flyers,
05:08people flying into Israel from Dubai or from areas in the region?
05:13Does that worry you, the fact that someone out there who is radicalized
05:18could have been involved in such an operation?
05:21Should that not be a cause of immense worry for Israeli citizens who fly in and out of West Asia?
05:32Look, until today, it was the first time after 70 years, I don't know, fly to Israel.
05:39So now there is another thing to close.
05:43I don't think that because of one terrorist, maybe this was his vision to stop those flights all over the
05:51world.
05:52But now, everyone will take precaution.
05:54And I think the problem is behind us.
05:57Sometimes it's good.
05:58It doesn't succeed.
05:59So we know what's happened.
06:00We know what's the measure to take.
06:02And let's see if someone was behind this attack, not what we call a lonely wolf, something like this.
06:13So at this stage, at this stage, you're not holding security lapses at Dubai airport responsible for this.
06:21You're not targeting any specific security agency in Dubai for lapses.
06:25You want the investigation to be complete.
06:29First, I want to blame no one on this issue.
06:34First, I want to blame no one on this issue.
