Airline Security Official’s Dual Role: Dvir Rubinstein’s Consulting for Flydubai and Emirates

Dvir Rubinstein’s Dual Role: Overseeing Airline Security While Consulting for Flydubai and Emirates

Dvir Rubinstein held a significant position within Israel’s Transportation Ministry, overseeing security approvals for foreign airlines. Simultaneously, he engaged in paid training and consulting work for prominent airlines like flydubai and Emirates. This dual role raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, even though the ministry stated his outside work was approved and conducted outside of his official hours. The situation highlights the complexities of managing public service roles alongside private sector engagements, particularly in sensitive areas like aviation security.

Ministry’s Stance on Rubinstein’s Outside Work

The Transportation Ministry clarified that Dvir Rubinstein operated under an outsourcing arrangement, meaning he was not a civil servant. According to the ministry, his additional occupations were legally approved and performed outside his designated working hours for the ministry. This arrangement allowed him to provide services to the ministry while also undertaking private work. The ministry emphasized that his external activities complied with all relevant laws and regulations.

Rubinstein’s Responsibilities in Aviation Security

In his role at the Transportation Ministry’s Aviation Security Operations Center, Rubinstein was responsible for all security approvals and permits required for foreign airlines and flights entering Israel. This included both pre-flight approvals and real-time oversight. His duties were critical in ensuring the safety and security of air travel into the country. The ministry’s approval of his outside work suggests they believed it did not compromise his ability to perform these essential public duties.

Approved Private Engagements with Airlines

Rubinstein received payment for private training and consulting services provided to Emirates and flydubai. These engagements sometimes involved travel to the United Arab Emirates to work directly with these carriers. Following these assignments, he would return to Israel and resume his oversight responsibilities, which could include airlines he had recently worked for privately. The ministry maintained that these outside jobs were approved and conducted outside of his official ministry duties.

Airline Declarations vs. Intelligence Checks

A 2021 Security Cabinet decision aimed to ensure that foreign countries’ security directives complied with international standards. However, the ministry’s account of crew screening differed, stating they relied on airline declarations rather than conducting direct intelligence checks on pilots. A senior ministry security official indicated that their department focused on aviation security assessments with airlines and local authorities, requesting confirmation that pilots had passed their own security checks. The ministry clarified it was not an intelligence agency and did not perform intelligence background checks on foreign crews.

Disputed Responsibility After Attempted Hijacking

An attempted hijacking on a flydubai flight brought renewed scrutiny to the procedures for screening foreign airline crews. Following this incident, questions arose about which Israeli bodies held responsibility for such checks. The ministry stated that intelligence responsibilities lay with other agencies, such as the Mossad and Shin Bet. While the ministry maintained it did not receive crew lists in advance and relied on airline declarations, Israel’s Tax Authority confirmed it received crew names for criminal status checks. This created a dispute over the extent of the Transportation Ministry’s role and capabilities in vetting foreign flight personnel.

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