Journalist barred from Netanyahu flight over security concerns

Kolyohin appeared taken aback by the abrupt, last-minute reversal of the decision to allow him on the flight.

By Dinah Bucholz, Jewish Breaking News

Russian-Israeli journalist Nick Kolyohin, who had previously been cleared to fly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, was removed from the flight before its departure due to security concerns.

Kolyohin contributes to the Russian state media outlet Russia Today, more commonly known as RT, as well as Newsmax, and had previously worked for the Israeli bureau of the Chinese state media network Xinhua News Agency.

Because of his work for Russian state media, Kolyohin has been accused of promoting Russian interests, a charge he says amounts to defamation.

The Shin Bet did not disclose the reason for the removal but instead said in a statement:

“In accordance with the agency’s mission and duties under the law, the agency is responsible, among other things, for the security of the prime minister. Within this framework, decisions are made in order to reduce risk to the prime minister and to the information in his surroundings. By their nature, it is not possible to comment on the reasons underlying specific decisions.”

From 2011 to 2012, Kolyohin worked for a deputy minister in the prime minister’s office as a spokesperson and also worked for Israel’s Channel 13 News.

Kolyohin appeared taken aback by the abrupt, last-minute reversal of the decision to allow him on the flight.

“If there are checks, do them in advance. Why at the last minute, and why without an explanation?” he said in an interview.