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PMO vows changes after diplomat is strip-searched
By Charlotte Halle

Far-reaching changes have been promised at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to prevent a repeat of the incident where the deputy British ambassador was strip-searched by security officers on her way to a pre-arranged meeting at the PMO last month.

The incident incensed not only diplomats at the British embassy in Tel Aviv. Israeli Foreign Ministry officials, who issued a formal apology following the incident, are said to be livid that their ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties could be undermined by what they regard as overly rigorous and crudely handled security checks on diplomats. One diplomatic source suggested the Foreign Ministry leaked the story to the media in an effort to pressure the PMO into making sweeping changes to security procedures following the incident.

British Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Janet Rogan was subjected to what the British embassy called an "intrusive security check" while accompanying a delegation of British treasury officials to a meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's chief of staff, Yoram Turbowicz, and senior policy advisor, Shalom Turgeman. PMO spokeswoman Miri Eisin said the inquiry into the incident had resulted in changes to procedures to accommodate the "special status of diplomats" when entering the PMO. A PMO insider told Anglo File these changes would be "drastic." Rogan's complaint also resulted in a formal apology from the PMO for the "indignity" of the incident.
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While no one at the Foreign Ministry disputes the gravity of the task facing the Shin Bet security service at the PMO, ministry officials are frustrated that junior officers appear not to understand the importance of treating foreign diplomats sensitively or appreciate the system of diplomatic rankings. "They didn't understand, or even know, that such a senior diplomat - who serves as charge d'affaires - should not be physically checked at all," said one ministry source.

The incident, considered particularly embarrassing for Israel due to its wide coverage in the British and American press, did not surprise seasoned Israeli diplomats. One former Israeli ambassador described incidents during his tenure at the Foreign Ministry involving diplomats and foreign officials at the highest levels who were invited to Israel on official missions and yet endured lengthy security checks here that left them "furious."

"We always complained and it never made any difference," said the former ambassador, adding that even the intervention of senior politicians on the issue appeared ineffectual. He referred to the wife of a former European premier who possessed a diplomatic passport and vowed never to set foot again in Israel after her "humiliating" interrogation before flying out of Ben-Gurion airport despite an otherwise thrilling visit here. That episode reached the ears of then prime minister Yitzhak Rabin who ordered his staff to remedy the system. "Nothing came of it. Do you really think the prime minister can work against habits [entrenched] in this system? You have to go right to the top of the security system," added the former ambassador. "I really don't know why these things happen when everything is coordinated in advance. It's astonishing. It must be someone very stupid at a low level."

Others are reluctant to blame underlings in the security system. "It's too easy to put the blame on the shoulders of young men. Those who invite the guests are responsible for preventing these kinds of problems," said one Foreign Ministry source. But with reports circulating that the prime minister has on occasion left his office to greet high-ranking guests and ease their entry through security, this solution seems far from satisfactory.

No one familiar with the topic views the current situation or the Rogan incident as a sign of deterioration in the treatment of VIPs in Israel, but rather an indication of inherent flaws in the implementation of Israel's security systems.

A cursory survey of foreign embassies conducted this week by Anglo File found several missions whose staff has experienced at most only minor problems while passing through security. One European diplomat related that his foreign minister's visit to the PMO last year went "totally smoothly." The Czech embassy stated its staff had experienced almost no security-related problems. "If there are some difficulties we understand the security reasons are more important than small problems," said press attache Robert Rehak. One senior European diplomat pointed out that while diplomats working from his embassy in Tel Aviv experienced only minor problems, those based in his country's consulate in Jerusalem who make frequent trips to Gaza are subject to much closer scrutiny when inside Israel.

A few embassies had specific complaints when contacted by Anglo File. One Asian diplomat recalled an embassy staffer who, despite carrying official documents, was questioned by security officers at Ben-Gurion airport for so long that he missed his plane. He also mentioned that breakdowns in the system that provides special permits for diplomats to meet guests at the airport have resulted in "embarrassing" starts to visits to Israel.

All the embassies contacted view Rogan's case as unusual and grave, and several diplomats referred to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which grants diplomats and their families a range of privileges and immunities (subject to the host country's laws and regulations) and compels the host country to treat diplomats with "due respect" and prevent "any attack on his person, freedom or dignity." The convention also declares the personal baggage of a diplomat exempt from inspection barring exceptional circumstances.

"There's a general feeling that some people who work on the ground here just don't know the rules. It's an annoyance in your work," said one diplomat.

Foreign Ministry Chief of Protocol Yitzhak Eldan said there have been significantly less problems for diplomats and other VIPs at the airport since two ministry staffers were assigned to a special bureau there several years ago. He added that the Vienna Convention was formulated in a different era when security threats took a different form.

A couple of foreign diplomats mentioned that security checks on diplomats in their own countries have also caused friction in recent years. "It's not just an Israeli problem, it's a global problem. Balancing the needs of security and protocol are a continuing challenge in our daily work," said one diplomatic source.

Another foreign diplomat disagrees. "The rest of the world manages to conduct its security checks without treating diplomats and others the way Israel does. Why can't Israel get a handle on it? Israel's image abroad is so poor anyway and it simply plays right into that."

Janet Rogan was unwilling to comment but is said to be have been furious about the indignity caused by both the incident and its widespread coverage. The British embassy issued a statement saying the apology issued by the PMO has been accepted and the matter is regarded as closed.
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  1.   OH DEAR HOW TERRIBLE!! PERFIDIOUS ALBION GETS ITS OWN MEDICINE 08:54  |  paul harris 15/04/07
  2.   `Rules of Engagement` 09:23  |  Ben Azai 15/04/07
  3.   The security is the priority #1. {Even for diplomats} 09:32  |  Vittorio 15/04/07
  4.   If they do this with diplomats..imagine how they 09:36  |  KENT 15/04/07
  5.   Security staff should be punished 10:10  |  Geoff 15/04/07
  6.   Strip search Israeli diplomats 10:14  |  Palestinian Brits 15/04/07
  7.   just stay out of Israel 10:29  |  Tara 15/04/07
  8.   Poms Whinging again 10:35  |  Star of David 15/04/07
  9.   Just imagine the indignities the Palestinian people... 10:52  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  10.   For Paul Harris # 1 11:01  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  11.   #9 JUST IMAGINE HOW MANY SUICIDE BOMBERS ARE CHECKED CLIKKY 11:05  |  paul harris 15/04/07
  12.   For Star of David # 8 11:05  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  13.   Next they will strip-search Condoleeza Rice! 11:23  |  JustMe 15/04/07
  14.   Is that the snap of a rubber glove I hear? 11:51  |  Bored by this story 15/04/07
  15.   Who bombed the Iraqi Parlament the other day? 12:03  |  Zev 15/04/07
  16.   Palestinian Brits 12:51  |  rich 15/04/07
  17.   Cavity search? 13:29  |  Sarah 15/04/07
  18.   13: I agree 13:51  |  David Teich 15/04/07
  19.   Bastards 14:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  20.   Justme in UK 14:40  |  rich 15/04/07
  21.   To Clickfool 14:48  |  Ruth 15/04/07
  22.   Star of David 14:52  |  Jenny Rountree 15/04/07
  23.   Clickfool: the thing about 15:04  |  Star of David 15/04/07
  24.   Uk is being percived as the enemy 15:38  |  bernard ross 15/04/07
  25.   Palestinian brit 15:38  |  briton 15/04/07
  26.   Ruth 15:39  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  27.   Chris Linthwaite rears his ugly head again 15:49  |  Vicki 15/04/07
  28.   These kinds of problems should be of particular interest to Ameri 15:50  |  Apartheid 15/04/07
  29.   #22 Star of David re Clickfool 16:01  |  Ari Katz 15/04/07
  30.   No BBC coverage 16:03  |  Avrum 15/04/07
  31.   #27 Vicki 16:13  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  32.   It makes no sense 16:25  |  Murray of Montreal 15/04/07
  33.   Diplomats are exempt 16:32  |  Marilyn 15/04/07
  34.   Just keep doing whatever you feel like, Israel 16:33  |  newageblues 15/04/07
  35.   Re 14: "She needs to remember that she is just" 16:36  |  Daniel 15/04/07
  36.   Of Clickfool and Indignities (#9) 16:40  |  Natan 15/04/07
  37.   israelis should be strip searched 16:45  |  nobodysacred 15/04/07
  38.   re. Avrum: No BBC coverage 16:49  |  nobodysacred 15/04/07
  39.   36 Natan The Palestinians were enduring these indignities long 16:55  |  Apartheid 15/04/07
  40.   For Ruth, who doesn`t actually bother to read stories # 21 16:59  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  41.   For Jenny, who also knows nothing about diplomatic rights # 22 17:02  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  42.   For Star of David 17:04  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  43.   "intrusive security check" 17:05  |  Mary 15/04/07
  44.   #30 Avrum 17:06  |  Deborah 15/04/07
  45.   For Natan # 36 17:12  |  Clickfool 15/04/07
  46.   Ruth #21. 17:13  |  Deborah 15/04/07
  47.   Answer to number 19. 17:13  |  David Nigel Braham 15/04/07
  48.   Clickfool: myopic as usual 17:14  |  pro bono publico 15/04/07
  49.   # 31 Chris Linthwaite - losing it again? 17:19  |  ChanahS 15/04/07
  50.   #22 Jenny Roundtree. 17:22  |  Deborah 15/04/07
  51.   Chris and CF 17:27  |  ChanahS 15/04/07
  52.   Cluckfool: I`m thinking, I`m thinking... 17:27  |  Star of David 15/04/07
  53.   Sorry Deborah #50 17:30  |  Jenny Rountree 15/04/07
  54.   #50 SO ANY ISRAELI DIPLOMAT CAN GO INTO ANY MUSLIM COUNTRY ? 17:31  |  paul harris 15/04/07
  55.   #46 Clickfool 17:38  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  56.   #52 Star of David and Clickfool 17:38  |  Mike Everett 15/04/07
  57.   For Star of David #52 17:51  |  Mike Everett 15/04/07
  58.   #54 paul harris 17:52  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  59.   # 19 Chis Lindthwaite...a nuke? really? a nuke? 17:54  |  The Equalizer 15/04/07
  60.   Natan to Clickfool #45 17:55  |  Natan 15/04/07
  61.   #52 Star of David: very droll :) 18:01  |  Avi Feinberg 15/04/07
  62.   #59 Equalizer 18:03  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  63.   #60 Natan 18:04  |  Chris Linthwaite. 15/04/07
  64.   #60 Natan 18:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  65.   humiliation for sport 18:07  |  Pssd Off American 15/04/07
  66.   #51 Chanah S 18:09  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  67.   #3 ABSOULTLY!!!!! 18:09  |  john allen 15/04/07
  68.   pro bono publico and cross dressing#52 18:10  |  Rachel Stern 15/04/07
  69.   #4 What makes you think 18:12  |  john allen 15/04/07
  70.   #8 RIGHT ON!!!!! 18:14  |  john allen 15/04/07
  71.   re. Natan: "Of Clickfool and Indignities (#9)" 18:16  |  nobodysacred 15/04/07
  72.   # 66 Chris L. 18:22  |  ChanahS 15/04/07
  73.   re. 54 SO ANY PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAN GO INTO HIS HOMELAND: 18:24  |  nobodysacred 15/04/07
  74.   For Star of David 18:24  |  Yosef Obeidi 15/04/07
  75.   #19 What is wrong with the Brits of today... 18:25  |  john allen 15/04/07
  76.   Chris Linthwaite 18:27  |  ChanahS 15/04/07
  77.   to 60: re. "Natan to Clickfool #45 " 18:28  |  nobodysacred 15/04/07
  78.   #72 Chanah S 18:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/04/07
  79.