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Americans want 'Israeli' airport security
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 23.11.10, 12:42
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1. with 450 airports there is plenty of places for a test
zionist forever   (11.23.10)
Even if the US wants to go along with all the scanners & the intrusive pat downs there is no reason why they can't adopt the Israeli system as well .. more security the better. Robert Gates says that because the US has 450 airports rather than just the one then fine choose an airport and test the system out. Get your people trained up and then hold a test for a year or so worst that happens is it doesn't work. No expensive equipment needed just train up your people so they are able to do profiling. If it works extend the scheme to another airport if it doesn't go back to the scanners and pat downs. The real problem for Obama with adopting the Israeli way of doing things is it looks for suspect categories such as muslims & arabs etc and a man who is obsessed with pleasing the islamic world allowing Israeli style airport security does not go down well. All technology can be beat, ELAL security people have said that these new scanners are not all they are cracked up to be. The pat downs its possible a small weapon made of a non metal material can still be hidden away or some smart terrorist will come up with a new form of bomb that can beat the machines. If you profile and question people before they even check their bags then you get to look the individual and you know if they might have something to hide. It might not be politically correct to adopt a scheme like Israel's and it probably will upset Obamas muslim buddies but Israel's way of doing things has proven it works over many decades and thats whats important if your interested in security first rather than the feelings of the muslim world.
2. The US certainly wants Israeli security!! But not the Obama
Jehudah Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (11.23.10)
White House!! It wants "peace", a state of now-conflict at the expense of Israel's security and perhaps even its very existence. Never again!!
3. Oh ! quick American answer for the Australian tourist !
Salma ,   Palestine   (11.23.10)
As if it came on the EL Al Air Lines with No Check ; )
4. Strip checking and raping will be the next security method
(11.23.10)
because patting down and the body scanners will be proven not to have helped much.
5. Won't happen
(11.23.10)
Under Obama there is no such thing as Islamic terror.
6. The US must start profiling and forget about scanners ..
michael redbourn ,   Arad - Israel   (11.23.10)
and pat-downs (having you privates groped). Israel has the safest flights in the world. Do they use profiling? Of course they do! What else do they do? They ask every passenger a set of random questions which have to be answered quickly. If the passenger fails to answer the questions in a reasonable way he gets yanked out of the line and questioned more deeply. Does Israel use pat-downs? No! Does it use all revealing scanners? No! There system has been in force for around 50 years. How many Israeli planes have been hijacked? One - And it didn't take off from Israel; and that was back in 1976! The Israelis then carried out Operation Entebbe. The operation took place at night, as Israeli transport planes carried 100 elite commandos over 2,500 miles (4,000 km) to Uganda for the rescue operation. The operation, which took a week of planning, lasted 90 minutes and 103 hostages were rescued. Five Israeli commandos were wounded and one, the commander, Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu, was killed. All the hijackers, three hostages and 45 Ugandan soldiers were killed, and 11 Soviet-built MiG-17's of Uganda's air force were destroyed. Only in Israel is decompression used on all luggage to check for pressure sensor detonators. And this from a Black Liberal! "In other words, they want profiling. That's a seductive idea, I suppose, if you don't spend a lot of time worrying about civil liberties. But it couldn't possibly work". - Eugene Robinson The above is just nonsense and Israel has proved it to be so! Being scanned and having your privates touched! Isn't that a breach of a person's civil liberties?
7. it appears we already have this type of security
we have x-ray ,   scanners here   (11.23.10)
we have x-ray scanners here already which people usually zoom by and do not mind because they want to be safe when they fly this holiday season. and i do not care if they see my boobs, etc so long as i am safe when i go traveling. and now it seems once you get on line to go through this security, you can not back out as it is now the idea that if you want to escape you have something to hide and will be caught. people can cry and whine but the take away from all this is you have to do it no matter what.
8. Not About Security
Gabi   (11.23.10)
Obviously, following Israel's security measures would be the most efficient way of ensuring safety on U.S. flights, but this is not about safety. This is about desensitizing Americans to physical and psychological degradation. Where have we seen this before?
9. Israeli Security
Chanawashdc ,   Washington Dc   (11.23.10)
Historically one of the biggest arguements against the Israeli system has been the cost. Israel has a higher percentage of security personnel per traveler than does the U.S. Multiply that times 450 airports. You willing to have your taxes raised to pay for it?
10. It makes sense and is so obvious! Do it!!
Salma, Palestine   (11.23.10)
This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone! In light of the fact that the vast majority of terrorists today are Arabs, of course young adults who look Arab should be checked! Because of our actions, we're to blame for the long lines at airports around the world! Simple!! In Arab countries, you should see who gets profiled and who does not. I guess, we will now have to mobilize very young and very old blond and blue-eyed women who will be able to blow up with planes in the name of Islam. Great idea! We'll keep you guys guessing!!!
11. Israeli/El Al type security and travelers to the US...
seadog1946 ,   Shooters Island, NJ   (11.23.10)
Having/knowing-someone-with a arabic sounding name or possessing a keffiyeh would not mean much to US customs agents... but wearing a "Mossad" or "Free Jonathan Pollard" t-shirt might raise an eyebrow.
12. Americans are stupid!
Rich ,   Toronto, Canada   (11.23.10)
Benjamin Franklin, an American patriot once said: ' People who give up their freedom for a little security deserve neither.
13. Seadog, #11
Golani ,   Vineland, USA   (11.23.10)
Seadog, you are right! Someone wearing a Mossad or Free Jonathan Pollar t-shirt would be someone who is against terrorism and for the free world, where as someone under your other description would be someone to susspect of being or supporting terrorism. There is a lot more to it, but yes, the behavioral based profiling works, and works well together with other technology. Also, it is not the US Customs Agents who are looking for potential threats getting on board aircraft, it is security.
14. to Salma and others
SA ,   USA   (11.23.10)
Oh good Salma, so you admit that Arabs are behind most terrorist attacks in the world! I'm glad to see you're taking baby steps in the right direction. By the way, I just wanted to point out that while it is true that Arabs generally face more questioning at Ben Gurion, that is not the only potentially suspicious profile. They often look out for other things, like people traveling alone with suspicious amounts of baggage, people who don't know what's in their bags, etc. I've always encountered questioning even as a kippah-wearing Jewish guy, they ask everyone a bunch of questions. I also speak Hebrew fluently, so they used to question me more to make sure I'm not an Israeli trying to avoid the army...since then I learned not to speak Hebrew in the airport. I just think it will be difficult for Americans with PC sensibilities to get used to profiling people.
15. I am not sure who is conducting those innacurate surveys,
Moise   (11.23.10)
Telling lies over and over again to make it sound true. Yes to security, but with a minimum impact on our privacy and freedom. We dont want Israeli model, Thank you!!
16. Israeli airport security
Jim Hultman ,   Shelby, NC,USA   (11.23.10)
If Wikipedia is reasonably accurate, Israel has 28 airfields, 8 of which are military, and only 2 are international. The U.S. has 19,820 airfields, over 100 are international. It is lunacy to think the U.S. can ever consider such a program as Israel's. There'd be lines miles long waiting to board, and there's no way to filter out convincing liars no matter how good they think they are.
17. Israeli system based on racisim
Rami of Nazareth ,   Israel   (11.23.10)
This is why it will never work in the USA where, unlike israel, minorities have rights and can sue when they are unjustly discriminated against.
18. to # 8
bennie ,   West Galil   (11.23.10)
A visit to any U.S. airport quickly disproves your contention that Israeli security is labor intensive. The hordes of TSA employees clearly outnumber the folks that ask questions at Ben Gurion Airport.
19. Bennie #18
Gabi   (11.23.10)
Bennie, I never said anything about Israeli security being labor intensive. Were you referring to another comment?
20. Rich - Americans Stupid? Seriously??
Susan ,   Phoenix, Arizona   (11.23.10)
Rich, once again your Canadian blinders have given you no insight into American security or decisions. First of all, Americans didn't have a vote in how Airport security is now being handled. It was thrust upon us by backroom negotiations and someone who obviously thought we'd like it this way. Second of all, you can't call Americans stupid unless you are also suggesting the Israeli's are also stupid - their security measures, while far less physical... are far more intrusive and intense. Thirdly, grow up.. if you can't comment without calling an entire nation of good people stupid, then you're stupid-er.
21. What a Joke!!!!!
Rachel ,   Dallas, Texas   (11.23.10)
So our south border with Mexico is so secure that no terrorist can infiltrate and harm us and our water borders are also perfectly secured!!! just our air borders need to be tightened!!!wow !! can we be more stupid???
22. Airport Profiling
Hillel Green ,   Netanya, Israel   (11.23.10)
All international airports should use Israel's profiling system. Its security screeners are college graduates who are highly trained in profiling through interviewing every passenger and checking other records and information. They are not minimum-wage personnel as used by TSA.
23. #17 What racism, Rami?
Tahl ,   Ashdod   (11.23.10)
Arabs are not a different race than Jews. As a matter of fact many Jews descend from Arab countires, and look just like Arabs. And actually there is much more racial diversity within Jews themselves, as they come from all over the place: Europe, North Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India, Turkey, Ethiopia...You would think that a "racist" profiling system would treat each of these groups differently, but this is not the case. Since these are groups of Jewish people, their profiles are considered mostly low-risk (after all, how many Jewish terrorists in the skies have we had so far?). Muslims happen to be at a higher risk group. I do realize this is unjust for the vast majority of ordinary Muslims, and it is unfortunate that they have to suffer.through ordeals in airports But you cannot argue with statistics. If you are a Muslim, the cold statistics say that you are perhaps 100 times more likely to be engaged in terror than a Christian, and perhaps 1000 times more likely than a Jew. A few years ago, a British Muslim managed to pass through Ben Gurion's security, and then detonate himself in a crowded bar (Mike's Place). Probably this happened because the "racial" profiling wasn't stringent enough back then. And when have you last travelled to the USA? Since 9/11 it is common practice there to single out people from suspicious backgrounds (especially Arabs) for more thorough checks. And to the best of my knowledge, no one has won a lawsuit over "unjust discrimination" in such case.
24. Maybe the pat downs would not be such a problem if.....
Brian ,   Tel aviv, israel   (11.23.10)
...they would get more appealing people to do it.
25. Let’s All Just Fly Naked…
EVE ADAM ,   GARDEN OF EDEN   (11.23.10)
26. Excellent point
Michael ,   Tenn   (11.23.10)
i think we should hire illegal aliens: about as effective as letting those morons in washington call the security shots
27. Behavioral Profiling vs Racial Profiling
Michael Davison ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (11.23.10)
The security at Ben-Gurion Airport is based on behavioral profiling, not racial profiling. There's a world of difference between the two. Racial profiling doesn't work, behavioral profiling does. The profiling detractors don't differentiate between the two, and slander profiling in general as a method. In the US, TSA employees are minimum wage drones with very basic training. Israeli security are college students and graduates who go through a long course before they're allowed to work with the public. One correction to # 6 - the airliner hijacked to Entebbe was an Air France plane, not El Al. At the time, only El Al flights were subject to the scrutiny that all flights in Ben-Gurion now undergo--foreign airlines didn't agree to "harassing" their passengers with security, after all, they weren't Israeli. They figured they were "immune" to hijacking.
28. To Tahl # 23.. this is what I mean
Rami of Nazareth ,   Israel   (11.23.10)
by racisim. I completely understand you point about muslims, however that is not what I was refering to. I'm refering to the treatment of Israeli-Arabs when flying from/to Ben Gurion. Even though the authorities already knows whether the passinger has any criminal history or association with radical groups, Still all israeli-arabs are humiliated, disrespected and treated as suspests. Including the ones who served in the IDF and put their life on the line to defent the jewish state, including the ones who work for governmental agencies, like police force, foriegn ministry, etc.. Israeli law doesn't protect our right and discrimination is institutionalized. This is what I refer to as RACISIM
29. The killers in the skies, an American obsession
jo   (11.23.10)
Americans claimed in the past that the Israeli securiy system cast suspition on one sector in an inclusive fashion ---- against arabs and muslims (you are damn right) Esquimos do not carry bombs when they fly. And Obama likes arabs. 70% of Americans support the Israeli profiling? How about listening to the people for a change? For 2 years you stubbornly refused to do so. It turned out to be a disaster. Listen to the people, they have better sense than politicians who do eveything for money; and some of them are getting very rich with these fancy new machines. PS : I like # 12, Rich from Toronto : " people who give up their freedom for a little security, deserve neither " - Benjamin Franklin
30. Eventually, all western democracies will
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (11.23.10)
seek Israel's advice on how to implement more stringent and more effective security measures. We possess, after all, the expertise. This is one of the factors we will witness as western countries become increasingly aware of the continuing threat of Muslim terrorists. As to awareness, I have already noted the huge changes in the American political system as well as what is taking place in Germany, Belgium, France, Norway, The Netherlands and Sweden. As these changes towards more sympathy towards the "Right" reverberate because of fears for the security and cultural integrity of each respected nation, the actual delegitimization of Israel in these countries will significantly diminish. Our detractors are fighting a battle against us which has already been lost ... by them.
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