Look at my butt! Airport guards embarrass Israel

Airport guards confiscate Russian photographer's camera, return it after taking asinine photos of themselves; tourist's friend: Another goodwill ambassador of Israel brought to tears. Officials to issue apology

Ido Kenan|Published: 07.29.11 , 17:05

Russian photographer Julia Burulyova says she received an irritating "souvenir" from her recent visit to Israel: Airport guards who confiscated her camera for an inspection used it to take asinine photos of themselves.

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Airport authorities confirmed the details of the story and said they will apologize to Burulyova and look into the case.

Look at my butt - photos on Burulyova's Facebook page

The Russian tourist recently visited Israel with a friend for a week's vacation. On Tuesday the two arrived at Ben Gurion Airport for their flight back home. Security guards showed special interest in Burulyova high-quality camera and asked her to leave it behind for a thorough security check.

The photographer explained that she needs the expensive equipment for her work, but security officers reportedly told her that if she wanted to make the flight herself she better leave the camera behind.

"And there, another satisfied tourist, another goodwill ambassador, was in tears at our airport," said Burulyova's friend, Victor Vertsner, who publicized the story on Facebook.

"We were planning an international photography forum in Israel with some 50 of Russia's leading photographers, yet now that the story was published nobody will be coming, of course," he said.

War on terror?

Upon picking up the camera at the Moscow airport, Burulyova was stunned to discover that security guards took some 10 photos of themselves, including one featuring a security officer posing with his rear-end facing the camera.

"Ben Gurion's security officials had fun and took a few pictures – this is the level of seriousness of their war on terror," she wrote in her Facebook account.

The Airport Authority confirmed that Burulyova was asked to leave her camera behind and that a complaint has been filed by the photographer's friend.

"The Airport Authority will apologize to Ms. Julia Burulyova. The issue is being looked into and the Airport Authority will take all necessary steps towards the parties involved," the Authority said in a statement.

Ynet also inquired whether the guards' conduct was negligent in exposing classified information – including security officers' photos and images from an airport security room that is off limits to the public. However, the Airport Authority declined to comment on the issue.