Why make such a Shalala din ding out of this ??

"Humiliated" ...but we won't go into details ,nudge nudge ,wink wink.

HUMILIATION .... across the Nation ;No Jubilation , yet more Frustration ,Those who cause Humiliation ; deserve Castration ; there's no Relation ;to Victoria Station ; without fear nor Trepidation ;without undue Hesitation; I need a Vacation .

I would certainly have questioned her if she had served under Clinton !

It does seem that some of the inquisitors at the airport do indeed lack the intelligence needed to immediately check on a VIPs credentials. However, there are too many details missing from this story to figure out exactly what happened. I tend to believe Shalala did indeed have a rough interrogation. I also believe that instead of immediately checking out her credentials, the interrogators figured she was getting riled up quickly and thus pressed her more, trying to see if they could trip her up (which how you do indeed find out of somebody is even unwittingly smuggling a bomb onto a plane, as has indeed happened in the past). The spokespersons response is as thick-headedly wrong as can be expected from a bureaucrat. It shouldda been "This incident is unknown to us and even after performing a thorough check we have no record of such an incident. However, we take this issue seriously and will investigate further in order to ensure that Ms. Shalala was not unduly treated. In that the weekend is upon us, our findings will be released next week." Whomever the spokesperson is, they need some remedial PR training.....oy!

Line up Mr. President Peres, PM Netanyahu and be preppared to eat humble pie.

Someone slipped up! If the authorities were NOT notified of Shalala's status or arrival they can't be blamed. They were doing their job. To avoid such incidents in future, perhaps the organisers of a visit of VIP's should notify the relevant authorities in writing and the organsers should get written confirmation of the receipt of such notification

HumilIation causes Indignation across the Nation ,not jubilation ; no cause for Celebration ;just procrastination .

Although some have been hijacked by Muslims, they do not appear to be even close to making up the majority of Hijackings. A list of aircraft hijacking incidents since the 1950's can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_notable_aircraft_hijackings So what you were saying about Muslims is just a perception created by the media and is not a true representation of reality. In other words, Sh!t happens all the time all over the world by people of all religions and races. However, Western media only creates hype and implys that blame should be on an entire religion when it's done by a Muslim. The media, not reality is the basis for your opinion and perception on Muslims. Hence the saying, you can't believe everything you hear.

Was humiliated at BGA in TLV by Israeli woman soldier with PMT .When Ms. Shalala complained ,she was unceremoniously told to STFU ,which is not very PC IMHO .LOL

So what's new?? Shalala wasn't the first and she won't be the last.

nobody here remembers her either and not every inconveniebce is a 'humiliation'where she comes from--friends of israel respect security at airports and everywhere else arabs have made it necessary

by those that hijack ships in international waters. So following your logic, the Israeli authorities should humiliate everyone with a Jewish surname that is planning to leave Israel by ship.

Israel seems to be pushing the line between the need for security and racism but US maybe stepping over that line as well with its no fly list, with children being refused to fly based on their names.

I have been visiting Israel at least 15 times last 6-7years.The passportcontrol and the taxfree refaund should be send to school "how to treat a customer"or get fired

except that our last name is WEISS (Jewish) and it was in JFK on the way to Israel.

If true, the Ben Gurion Security should re-consider (for the zillionth time) WHO they hire for these screenings. Employing bored, tired and testosterone-filled students is NOT a good recipe for improving Israel's image abroad. We should employ professional, experienced and MATURE adults, not irresponsible kids with a vivid imagination and total lack of respect for the visitors coming in or leaving Israel.

The security staff seem to be real dummies. We really know how to make enemies.

Heheh , they operate under different names with stolen pasports ;) ,...

As US Immigration officers use to do with a lot of people..

Maybe she was questioned because she has a suspiciously silly name. Come on,lighten up. THREE CHEERS FORE ISRAEL!!!

I'm writing this as an ex el al security guard who knows a thing or two about security - and what happened in this case is total disgrace and example of Israeli dumbness. What makes el-al special is that we look for "intentions" instead of "means". In other words while other airline just look to see if the man carries a bomb, we try to find out who this man is - and does he have hostile intentions. As long as there are suspicions, such people should and must be interrogated. Yet this case is the opposite - this woman is a former US government minister for christ's sake. On top of it she's a friend of Israel, and on a pro-israel mission here. Is there any doubt that such woman does not intend to blow up a plane? Even if security was not notified in advanced etc. etc., a semi-competent and intelligent security guard shoudl have picked up on this "special case" in 3 minutes. At that point the only issue that remains is identity - in other words, is this woman who she says she is? The right move then is simple - bring her to the air-conditioned office, give her coffee and sandwich (at our expense), explain that we must verify/coordinate - and then contact whoever needed, foreign ministry etc., to verify this woman is who she says she is. The moment it's proven, game over. In any case she should be left out of the game - given total respect, not questioned, not interrogated, period. This is not the obvoiusy logical and smart thing to do, it's also the right thing to do in terms of security logic and security procedures. And I know. I worked there. We just screwed up. As I said this is a total disgrace, and yet another warning call for the people up there to shake up things, because something is obviously wrong. And the state of Israel is paying the price. Great way to lose our friends. Way to go security people, way to go.

Because I have an Arab name I also get questioned. But because I can prove I am Jewish interview lasts about 15 minutes.

But your warlords and warmongers don't need no stinkin' peace, they want you to live in perpetual fear and if there's no enemy they'll create one so they can justify their existence.

when boarding flights leaving the Israel...

Obviously we know who Donna Shalala is. It's too bad that airport security didn't or that they also didn't get the message that she is a VIP. They should send an apology right away.

What an unfortunate incident. Someone from the gov't should issue her an appogy. I understand the need in Israel for racial profiling, and let's be honest it occures in many other countries too. I traveled with my best friend (who is persian) from Holland and on arrival in New York he was held and interigated because he has an islamic name. But he was coming into the country and was 25 yrs old at the time. This 69 yr old woman was leaving and obviously posed no threat. Common sense should have prevailed.

I'd like to change my name - whats about Grünspan ? Does security depend on names or passports or on strict rules of controlling people and search for explosives. One who travels to the Holy Land has to accept wholly measures of security

Such thin skin! I've been pulled out of line twice at BG, once at gunpoint. I've spent many hours letting their security people straighten things out, which they always do. It's just a fact of life, so get used to it and don't freak out if it happens to you. A VIP (from another nation, of course) could be carrying a bomb, so let the people who protect us do their jobs. BG has the best security in the world- let it stay that way.