O.K. now try going to and from the U.S. and see how you enjoy the security at U.S. airports.

A couple years ago, I was pulled out of line at B-G airport at gunpoint. A 45 pistol touching my head while a 6 foot Israeli security guys grabs me and drags me out of line to a secluded part of the terminal. He asks questions, his buddies who came over ask questions, they tell me nothing for an hour. Then they ask the family questions, the how do you know so-and-so questions, etc. An unpleasant experience in every way. Meanwhile, my entire family sees their dad dragged away at gunpoint. It was a nasty inconvenience. I didn't enjoy it. But that's what Israel MUST do to keep people who want to harm Israel off airplanes. The would should just agree to stop letting Muslims on airplanes, trains, busses, etc. The civilized world should demand that Muslims not be allowed on public transport. That should inconvenience the sane Muslims enoughto crack down on their on psychopathic brothers. The planet should not be forced to go through these hoops simply because Muslims want to spread the 'good news' of their 'peaceful' religion- by blowing up us innocent infidels. Juan Williams was correct- a Muslim in Muslim garb IS something to worry about, especially on a plane, so DON'T LET THEM FLY.

Look at the insanity here in the US all because we have a Muslim-born US president with deep sympathy for the global jihad. Israel is doing the right thing, despite some inconvenience and hurt feelings. I fully support profiling.

Who cares?

Sorry, Nicki, but these checks are necessary. And also the reputation of these thorough checks are a necessity actually a part of the whole thing. And as you write, "it took about an hour", the ordeal didn't take too long. I hope you visit again some day. In several European airports, especially Germany, you will encounter similar treatment nowadays, only it takes much much longer, because the personnel is less trained.

I am a New Zealander. I spent here 20 years of my life. I happen to be born in Casablanca, big deal of a security risk at Auckland airport. You'll get the same treatment with a banana or an apple in your stuff at Sydney airport. The US, another animal altogether. So don't take it personally. Not all muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are... by association.

Whose palestinian boyfriend sent to meet his mom via El Al, slipping a bomb into her bag to explode her, their unborn baby, and all the passengers in midair? Bieng detained by Israeli security saved her life. Israelis have to deal with a threat you cannot understand in Australia.

US is not so good but getting better at the expense of privacy- ALL COMPLIMENTS OF RADICAL ISLAM!!! remember when you used to just walk on a plane because nobody wanted to blow themselves and everyone else up to meet their virgins.

I am very grateful for the work of ELAL security. When I was flying with my children it was a wonderful feeling to know that the same officers that interrogated you, are there for me. I was never subject to any extensive search, but I can assure you if I will be searched and interrogated for few hours it will make me feel great knowing they are doing the outmost to protect me and my family. Whenever I have the opportunity to pay few hundred dollars more and use an ELAL especially if I am with my children I do it. After you will have your first child I can assure you, you will pick ELAL to travel should you have an opportunity and also you will pay more for their tickets. Unfortunately ELAL is not servicing enough routes, to bad. Your story brought to my mind the story of a pregnant british woman with a boyfriend asking her to carry unknowingly a bomb on an ELAL flight. The boyfriend was the father of the unborn child. Thank you to the security officers working for ELAL. And to be honest I like also ELAL service.

My sympathies for the traveler, but even though all elements of her inspection may not have been necessary or delivered with appropriate respect, at least there was something more suspicious about her than the fact that she intended to travel by air. And at least these methods would have stopped a would be attacker. Now in America, the TSA (aka, Terrorist Support Agency) is so rediculous that I will no longer allow my family to fly. No random strip searches or groping for my wife or daughter. But on the other hand, hopefully El Al recognises that disrespect or unecessary insensitivity is a threat to security also. This could give more ammunition to tie El Al's hands in doing what needs to be done.

I was given a good security check with my british passport and israeli document with my surname cohen. unlike missionaries, i even had my tallit and tefillin bags in my case, and no, i don't any facial beard whatsoever and i don't wear a kippah. i welcome searches that will secure my arrival safely. complain to your arab friends who are the cause of this situation

many may not understand, but there is good reason for everything that happens with Israeli security. It may not be perfect, but it is effective. Some people may not feel comfortable with what they go through, but there is logic of what is going on "behind the doors" that the people being questioned and looked at do not see. Most cases, it is nothing, but the security squad is doing their job, and the job is amazing. Flying last week in the US, I got to witness the new security measures and although effective in searching those who are search, they are still just picking out people and trying not to let it look like they are profiling so they are picking out people who do not seem suspicious and the people that I would assume to be suspicious are allowed to just pass through. Israeli security goes way beyond just scanning an individual or doing an intrusive body search. Keep up the good work Israeli Security and keep our citizens, tourists and friends safe.

Who will protect innocents from the American government? At American airports, innocent Americans and tourists are being forcibly exposed to cancer-causing, health destroying radiation through full body scanners showing their naked bodies or undergoing a very aggressive, invasive so-called "pat down" which analysts have stated would be criminal sexual assaults if it was not being done by government workers. U.S. so-called airport security has NOTHING to do with security. It’s all about power and control and destroying our health, basic human rights and our freedom. Ruling elites know the body scanners are useless: “Full-body scanners are waste of money, Israeli expert says A leading Israeli airport security expert says the Canadian government has wasted millions of dollars to install “useless” imaging machines at airports across the country. “I don’t know why everybody is running to buy these expensive and useless machines. I can overcome the body scanners with enough explosives to bring down a Boeing 747,” Rafi Sela told parliamentarians probing the state of aviation safety in Canada.” http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Full+body+scanners+waste+money+Israeli+expert+says/2941610/story.html

Even if this procedure was necessary, there was no need to carry it out with such brazen disregard for the victim. Tourism is not a crime, she should have been treated with respect and dignity.

It is unfortunate when a tourist has to be put through this but there have been a number of incidents where potential innocents have been slipped packages by friends. Just a few weeks ago bombs were discovered in toner cartridges, why not laptop batteries. Nickis friend writes of how this makes a negative impact on the State's image and character. Guess what--random terrorist bombs make even a bigger negative impact on israel's image. Tourism dropped to almost nothing during the years of the intifada. Today it is way up, even with a small percentage of travelers being put through uncomfortable security. Nicki was apparently innocent. We do not know how many people put through this procedure were not and how many lives have been saved because of this procedure. As other talkbackers have said, Israel is not ashamed to profile and if you hang out with someone who fits the profile you run the same risk. I am not saying don't have Arab/Muslim friends but you need to appreciate that this procedure not only keeps me safe, but it also keeps YOU safe!

This should not of a shocking news as his happens alot as the security officers at the airport usually profile travellers on the basis of their ethnicity and work place. so many nice people who dont pose any kind of threat or travelling with young children were subjected to similar treatment. You can not complain when is the person who receives your complaint is the same one who will pass the judgment. good luck and safe travel to everyone as we all have families and love them and would like to be with them.

...is ok with me...and let the flight be delayed if need be. WHATEVER it takes....it's better than getting blown out of the sky.... Nicki, if you see it this way, you'll understand why Israel is the best in the world in this field.

Get lost Omri......... this is a rabbish way of handling security.

go through the security checks or dont come. No one cares. The last time EL AL had a serious security threat was a looongg time ago and its because of these measures. Do you know why you were detained nikki? because theres a chance ur arab from poss placed some explosives in your items with you completly unaware. These security checks are the reason israel doesnt need retarded body scanners, deal with it or please dont come

This person chooses to associate herself with anti-semitic elements. She rooms with people (a close friendship) who statistically overwhelmingly hate Jews and Israel and chooses to support Arab markets while in Israel. If she was not pulled aside and treated in the manner she described then the officers in charge of security on that shift should have been fired. She fired off a lot of red flags. At any rate it is better than security theater in the US which molests children and exposes people to cancer-causing machines. I'm an Israeli citizen and I will fly El Al and only El Al wherever they provide service.

What El Al stuff did - and they did although some tough questioning to me - is the only way to protect our country from terrorists and other enemies including the intimitating situation etc., although some nice words afterwards and an apology for the circumstances would be in place.

country we experienced the most thorough search ever. They even screen the flight crew (which is unusual). I wish I can go there again one day.

1) I loved #3's comment, particularly the phrase about "inconveniencing sane Muslims enough to crack down on their psychopathic brothers". 2) Really hope you come back to Israel, Nicki. 3) It's true...profiling and causing discomfort are necessary and part of the routine and it has made people I know who (should) love Israel truly have feelings of antipathy. So, why, once it is determined by security professionals that the person pulled out of line is no security risk, is there not a convincing explanation and a heartfelt apology from the company right away. "Welcome to Israel, now f*ck *ff" is not good business. Hearts and minds guys.

Lady, you got no one to blame except your Arab friends and the weak politicians who refuse to deal with Arab terrorism the way it should be dealt with!

She might not understand why but for some reason that ELAL have not explained she was considered a security risk for some reason or maybe she was suspected of smuggling something there are a whole host of possible reasons. I think that ELAL should send her a letter of apology saying we are sorry about your bad experience but its about security and her experience doesn't happen very often etc.

lawyer: I had a very similar experience approximately 25 years ago. I inadvertently met a young Belgian girl at the airport before debarking to Europe. We conversed a bit about odds and ends. When we reached security, her entire baggage was searched, opened and she was asked the routine questions in front of other passengers. HOWEVER...it did not end there... BOTH of us were later taken to two separate rooms and were "INTEROGATED!!!" Oh my GOD!! We were INTERROGATED!! They asked me what I did in Israel and since when did I know that girl I spoke with. Of course everything checked out, but I praised them and told them that I was very proud of what they were doing... and may Israel be Blessed forever. They smiled at me and let me go. Later I asked her what happened and she said that she was stripped by a woman and the reason for their suspicion was that she visited Jordan and Arab villages in the West bank. I asked her if she harbored hard feelings and she she said no...not at all. The moral of all this is that IF you love Israel truly, you will understand the security concerns of Israelis who are now champions teaching the entire world about security and not harbor ill feelings and thoughts.

The treatment this young woman went through does seem excessive, if it was only the Arabic-sounding name of her friend that caused it. However, I must comment upon the keffiyeh purchase. Anyone who has the slightest knowledge of the situation here knows the keffiyeh was Arafat's resistance symbol, and to purchase one is not the best idea.