More than 1,200 aircrew members, including pilots and co-pilots, from countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel have entered the country since the beginning of the year, according to information presented Tuesday to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

During a closed-door session of the committee’s intelligence subcommittee, lawmakers were also told that aircrew entering Israel in recent years included citizens of Syria, Lebanon and Oman.

A Transportation Ministry representative attending the meeting was reportedly surprised by the figures, which he had not previously known, and requested further clarification.

The discussion took place amid heightened scrutiny of aviation security following the recent Flydubai incident. It also emerged that Flydubai is considering extending the suspension of its flights to Israel beyond October 15.

Following the meeting, committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth declared: “The face of civil aviation in Israel will change from today.”

Bismuth, who also chairs the intelligence subcommittee, said all relevant agencies would be required to complete internal reviews and provide clear answers.

He said the committee would continue monitoring the issue until it receives the full findings.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)