Druze officer says was treated 'like terrorist' at Eilat airfield
Air Force officer claims security staff at southern city's airfield humiliated him despite the fact he presented his military ID. Airport Authority denies allegations, says security check was routine
D. a Druze Air Force officer complained Wednesday that his was humiliated by the security staff at the Eilat airfield. The Israel Airport Authority rebuffed the allegations, saying that the officer was not subjected to any irregular procedures.
According to D., he arrived at the southern resort city's airfield around 12pm in order to board a flight back to central Israel. While waiting to check in, he was approached by one of the security officers, who began the regular questioning procedure.
"He asked me routine questions at first, like where I was from, and I told him that I am from Julis (a Druze village in northern Israel). I was wearing my uniform and I showed him my military ID." At that point, he said, thing took a radical turn for the worse.
"I had a camera with me and he demanded to see the photos. One of them was of my fiancé and he started grilling me about who she is and what she does and I cooperated as much as I can… But then he began taking personal items out of my bag in front of everyone.
"Then two more officers joined him and they treated like I was some sort of drug dealer. The more senior officer had a weapon and a metal detector and she took me to a side room and began rifling through my things again. She was very blunt and rude in the way she spoke to me… I was practically in tears."
D. told Ynet he had no idea why he was treated in such fashion, especially since he was fully cooperative. He said more and more officers came in to question him, and that he was finally allowed to board the plane just minutes before takeoff.
"My whole family is in the security forces. My brothers are IDF officers. My father has been a police officer for 30 years and I'm proud to be wearing IAF uniforms. I was shocked. I'm willing to die for this country and these people are humiliating me. the moment they heard I was a Druze they began treating me like I was a terrorist."
The Israel Airport Authority offered the following comment: "We are tasked with keeping thousands of passengers safe every year and we follow the orders handed down by the State authorities. D.'s complaint has been reviewed and no fault was found in the security check he was subjected to, nor did we find any evidence of misconduct by the airfield's security officers."
The Airport Authority said that D. had admitted to the security officer during the routine questioning that he had not packed his suitcase himself but rather his fiancé had done so for him, and that protocol in this case requires the security personnel to operate as they did.
"The Eilat airfield security chief spoke with D. and explained the situation. From what we understood, D., who is a member of the armed forces, accepted the explanation offered."
