Los Angeles International Airport. Getting a security upgrade
Photo: Sky News
Shin Bet to upgrade security in LA Airport
Los Angeles International Airport invites team of security experts from Shin Bet, Ben Gurion Airport to examine airport's security arrangements. Israeli team leaves six suggestions for improving LA Airport security. Consul general in Los Angeles: This is unprecedented project of cooperation
A team of Shin Bet and Ben Gurion Airport security experts recently reviewed the security arrangements at Los Angeles International Airport and suggested recommendations for improvement.
The original initiative for the visit was brought up by Jack Weiss, a Los Angeles City Council member who participated in a homeland security conference held by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, during which he was very impressed by the security arrangements at Ben Gurion Airport.
Upon his return to the United States, Weiss contacted the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles to arrange a visit of Israeli security experts.
The Israeli team made patrols and held meetings with those responsible for airport security, which is about to go through a USD 500 million upgrade. The Israeli team pointed out a number of weak points and holes in the airport security system and passed on a list of recommendations to their American counterparts.
President of the Los Angeles Airport Board of Airport Commissioners Alan Rothenberg said that the Israelis had at least six suggestions to improve security, some of which were relatively easy to carry out, and others that necessitate sophisticated technological developments.
Israeli Consul General in Los Angeles Ehud Danoch said that this is an unprecedented project in which the commissioners of an Israeli governmental body, as opposed to experts from the private sector, have come to an American airport for an extensive examination of the security arrangements.
Danoch's deputy, Yaron Gamburg, said that the visit signifies a new stage of cooperation in homeland security with the US.
