Shin Bet halts direct flights between Israel and Morocco over security concerns
The Israeli internal security service, the Shin Bet, has ordered an immediate halt to all direct flights operated by Israeli airlines, including Arkia, Israir, and Sun d'Or, to Morocco. Following this directive, flight schedules have been cleared and ticket sales frozen, forcing Israeli travelers to use indirect routes through European hubs. The decision stems from a security incident in late September involving an Emirati airline pilot who had previously received aviation training in Morocco. Viewing this past link as a security risk, Tel-Aviv enforced a unilateral suspension without coordinating with Moroccan authorities. This move highlights the asymmetrical nature of the 2020 normalization agreements, as Israel prioritizes its own security protocols over bilateral cooperation, effectively bypassing Rabat in the decision-making process.
