In a side room at the airport
It is hard to convince the Jewish public in Israel that what happens at Ben-Gurion International Airport is a systematic injustice, if not worse. The ethnocentric panic undermines the principle of civil equality.
By Avirama GolanHere is a story known to only some of the citizens of Israel. A few weeks ago a 43-year-old lecturer in sociology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who serves as a member of the prestigious academic journal Sociology, packed a suitcase and went to Ben-Gurion International Airport. From there he was supposed to take off for the journal's annual editorial board meeting in London. He stood in line, showed his passport and his ticket and was immediately directed to a separate line.
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El Al planes at Ben-Gurion International Airport in July 2009. |
| Photo by: Tomer Appelbaum |
The lecturer, whose name is Nabil Khattab and who lives in Beit Safafa, was not surprised. He says he accepts with understanding the lengthy security check, including the opening of his suitcases and rummaging in his carry-ons and laptop computer. He even accepts the detailed questioning (Where is he going? With whom will he meet? Where is the invitation? Who is the person who invited him? Give names of people. Are there representatives of enemy countries there? Who? ), though the connection between that and the security of the flight is not clear to him.
In recent years the security check has become a severe and exhausting hassle, which reaches its climax in the side room. The person being investigated is taken to the room and there he undergoes a thorough body check - head hair, ears, neck, armpits, every centimeter down to the soles of his feet, including private parts. Even this humiliating check Khattab accepts submissively.
This time, however, the examiner probed the lower part of his body with a cloth-covered stick and began to insert it under Khattab's trousers.
"That was already intolerable," he said. "I couldn't keep quiet. With the greatest possible restraint I asked the examiner to stop. This has no connection to security, I said to him. If there is a suspicion that I am carrying explosives or metal on my body - let me go through the metal detector and if the machine beeps I will come back for examination."
The examiner replied that if he did not agree to the examination with the stick he would not be allowed to board the plane. Khattab explained that he represents The Hebrew University on an important academic journal and that he cannot be absent from the meeting.
In vain. Angry and insulted, he took his suitcase and left. Ten minutes later, Khattab changed his mind but when he tried to go back to the side room he was told that because he had left the passenger terminal he would have to go through the whole check again, from the beginning. When he finally reached the room the examiner demanded he remove his trousers. "I will take them off only if they demand this of all passengers," he said, and went home.
His wife persuaded him not to give in. He found a seat on the next flight to London, paid the difference and went back to the airport. The check was completed relatively quickly and included a body check. Without a stick.
The question arises as to whether an intrusive check with a stick is necessary. If so - why didn't they do it the second time? If not - why did they want to do it?
However, even without sticks, the security check of Arab citizens of Israel is markedly different. Even the authorities in the United States, who have gotten carried away with paranoia since 9/11, have realized that it is impossible to do security checks by "profiling" and have determined to carry out random checks of all passengers. In Britain and Germany they do a thorough check of everyone: This is more expensive and it takes more time, but it avoids violations of civil rights.
At this time it is hard to convince the Jewish public in Israel that what happens at Ben-Gurion International Airport is a systematic injustice, if not worse. The ethnocentric panic undermines the principle of civil equality. Perhaps if they also opened the Levys' suitcases and the Cohens' suitcases, asked them innumerable personal questions and probed their bodies with a stick, the system would have to reexamine the security check.
Today there isn't a Knesset that will decide this. Perhaps the High Court of Justice, where there is a petition pending on this issue, will be able to do so.
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Unfortunately, just because he is a lecturer at HU, he suffers because of the stupidity of other Arabs. When one people is bent on destroying another people, every security measure must be taken.
The Arabs are the problem. They are the ones who plot to destroy Israel and kill Jews. Israel is a tiny country that must do what it must do in order to protect citizens. Perhaps on the day Mr. Khattab was set to fly intelligence reported a situation that warranted a more vigorous examination of Arab passengers. Ever check into that? Not every thing Israel does is so nefarious.
The Arabs are the problem. They are the ones who plot to destroy Israel and kill Jews. Israel is a tiny country that must do what it must do in order to protect citizens. Perhaps on the day Mr. Khattab was set to fly intelligence reported a situation that warranted a more vigorous examination of Arab passengers. Ever check into that? Not every thing Israel does is so nefarious.
I'm a Jewish Israeli and what my colleague Nabil Khattab went through sounds familiar (without the stick part). It is a huge mistake of Avirama Golan to think that ONLY Arabs and foreigners are liable to such special treatments.
Search techniques differ, but the use of a stick, the cloth is to soften the touch on the skin, it is intended to find an attached object, such as a switch, trigger, 'package,' weapon or wire, without setting off the bomb!! A switch is made for fingers and can be inadvertently triggered with a gloved hand, but less likely with a stick and has the added advantage of being less 'erotic' or stimulating and subject to false accusations of a sexual nature. Order him to strip entirely is the sure method of not touching him, but more humiliating. Thus the more he resisted,being searched the more onerous search methods needed to be used, and his humiliation is self-inflicted. The article twists the search process in the telling of the story by demphasizing certain aspects and focusing on others and playing on the ignorance of the reader regarding security measures and search techniques and minimizing the dangers.
Average white British male. My 5x entries into Israel have all been relatively quick. My 5x exits however range between (the shortest) 2hrs and (the longest) 4.5hrs. It's included the 'cloth on a stick' twice. My Jewish co-travellers, on the other hand, are waved through with nothing more than a half-hearted smile. It doesn't bother me any more - I know what to expect and the feeble attempts at humiliation no longer work. I just feel sorry for Israel's international standing a little more each time I pass through.
When your plane blows up.
I am an American who recently returned to the U.S. after spending three months teaching English in Nablus. I was nervous flying out of Ben-Gurion airport since many of my friends who work for NGOs in Ramallah had had horrific experiences getting through airport security. One of them was strip searched three times, though she works for an international organization that works with children, and another was subjected to a "cavity search." So though I thought that I might have a hard time at the airport, I was not prepared to be so utterly humiliated. The icing on the cake was when they were unpacking all my bags and the thing that they were most concerned with (not the digital voice recorders, arabic books, or computer) was my 2.5 inch "mini pocket rocket." In case you don't know, a pocket rocket is a very small vibrator. It is battery operated. It is called a pocket rocket because it is so small it fits in your pocket. This tiny device apparently warranted calling over the head of Israeli airport security (I'm not joking) who proceeded to question me about this vibrator (have you given this vibrator to anyone else? has anyone else used this vibrator?) and to then wrap my tiny vibrator in bubble wrap and stick it in its own security box (which is more than 100 times the size of the vibrator). This box and my vibrator traveled with the rest of my luggage home to New York. Apparently my vibrator is only a security risk when it's traveling in my bag with the rest of my belongings. Anyway, then I burst into tears, and they took me over for the private body check. No strip search, thank god. But I felt completely humiliated, which I guess was their intent. They don't want foreigners - humanitarian aid workers, journalists, english teachers, anyone - to travel to the West Bank or Gaza, and they make that very clear.
What is a country called if they are surrounded by enemies within and without and they do not protect themselves: STUPID. If you knew (or cared) the slightest bit, you would know that Israeli Arabs are actively involved in terror. Yes, this man is probably OK, but that is exactly the weakness the terrorists are looking for. I prefer if they keep him off my plane until they are 100% certain he is safe. By the way, if you want some examples of Isaeli Arabs terrorist activiy, I can provide you a list. They have transported information, supplies, money, material and people for murderous activities and their own leaders encourage them to incitement. So, as we say in English, you get what you sow.
We all undersrand the importance of security when it comes to air travel and are willing to undergo lenghthy questioning sessions, luggage search, etc. However, there are many instances when Israeli Arabs with Isareli passports have to endure humiliating body search - taking off all clothing as well as bending over, etc - that makes one question the motive: is this for security purposes or is it to humiliate another human being?
I have yet to meet a Jewish Israeli who has not come to America and bragged about the full equality Israeli Arab citizens have. Really? Many roads and infrastructure in Israeli Arab towns are in horrendous shape, Arab Israeli schools do not have anywhere near the things Jewish Israeli schools have for their children and there are many Israelis who want a loyalty oath to the State because they don't trust Arab Israelis and there is now talk of deporting people who do not agree with the State. This is directed against one group only: Arab Israelis. If you are going to treat your fellow citizens like they are an enemy of the State then don't come to America and lie about how wonderful Arab Israeli citizens lives are in Israel. All too often the average Israel sees only what they want to see and hears only what they want to hear and they cannot realize they cannot see the reality that exists right next to them.
Excellent article! How does Israel want to attract tourists and give an appealling image with such a behaviour? I am myself victim of this policy, each time I travel to Israel (alone) and not being member of any religious organization I am systematically subject of head to toe examination.... Do you think that such a humiliation is absolutely necessary for security reasons ?????????
It is just too bad Israel is ensconced in the Middle East. Israel is not located between Disneyland and Disneyworld.
Israel is not the US. I am a frequent traveler to Israel and I support the fact that they inspect everybody and some even more before they board the plane. Israel is surrounded with enemies that would like to blow up some of its airplanes. If the US was surrounded by Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Hamas and Hizbollah, Gaza, etc,,, they would do even more profiling than Israel. Some profiling in the US airports would have prevented some unwanted terrorists from boarding airplanes. The only concern that we should have is that innocents people who board the planes arrive safely to their destinations. If it requires more security checks so be it. I flew with two Israeli passengers to New York. They had Israeli passports and Jewish names, served in the Army etc,, and they were asked to remove their pants and were searched with the stick. SO...............
Who are you kidding. Stop lying please.
Israel is surrounded by enemies (including internal ones) who make no secret of their desire to destroy us and have tried to do so by attacking plane passengers, blowing up planes and hijacking planes. This is a fact. I'm glad that our security forces are doing the job. If it turns off some potential visitors. I'm sorry.
What happens to Israeli passengers in Saudi Arabia airport? Correct, just like dogs, they are not allowed. There are many faults in the Israeli society, like in any society of the 21st century. But does it make any sense to demand even higher standards from Israel when all around it societies of the 12th century happily flourish? You think things will get better if the gap between Israel's standards and standards of it's neighbors increases even further? One of the main reasons for continuation of this conflict is complete lack of understanding between societies of 21st and 12th century. Insisting on increasing the gap between them will only make things worse.
If this is true than it is a major blemish on the face of Israel. I had no such personal experience, luckily. It was all routine, passport check, luggage and the purpose of my visit. And I am Muslim on top of that. True, being Caucasian, and having Slavic surname and decidedly non-Muslim name might have prevailed. It sounds awful when I write the possible reasons, but after hearing various stories of people going through hellish ordeal, that is the only reason I can think of why the same didn't happen to me. Many, many Turkish stamps in the passport might have helped. :D Change it Israel. For your and the sake of all those who are friendly towards Jewish state.
...I have, after visiting relatives and friends in Israel, went through this side room routine several times - though not including the stick (then again, it wouldn't surprise me if they tried). However, from my and other (European, Arab, and even Asian) friends of mine's experiences, this uncomfortable, way-too-thorough side room check seems to be more likely to happen to lone travellers, no matter what ethnic or social background they might have. But still: It is a ridiculous routine, as there are far more effective and less intruding methods for checking passengers for explosives, weapons, drugs, or illegal substances. And if the thoroughness is to increase any more now, I'd say it is potentially damaging to tourism. IMO even the nicest vacation can be damaged if it ends with being treated like shit at the airport.
because the Airport Security was too lax. "Other means" : sniffing dogs ,well arabs strongly object to them,"unclean animal" for them "Scanning devices" -failed at Shippol with the Christmas Bomber If you have any foolproof device ,patent it ,don't be basfhul ,way to riches lies open to you.
What makes you so cock sure to question Israeli security techniques? Do you have any experience protecting the lives of travelers? To protect a nation? I strongly doubt it.
"In Britain and Germany they do a thorough check of everyone: This is more expensive and it takes more time, but it avoids violations of civil rights." At German airports the luggage is x-rayed and everybody walks through a metal detector. That's it, no extra procedures based on your looks or name - like at any other normal airport in the world.
Absolutely rubbish - I travel through Germany 8 times per month and these checks exist. I saw them and have been subjected to them.
I think you're making a big mistake. true yoy may suffer more in Israel if you are a Muslim but dont dare suggest that any airport in Israel gives you a better ride. Try flying with a 100 ml of water contained in a bottle of 125ml through Londona and you will have that confiscated. Now try travelling with small kids on a connnection through Heathrow like I do and you will see the spudity in confiscating anything such as yogurts and creams and lets not forget the whole undressing session of belts and shoes and soon you will realise that Ben Gurion has a much quicker and smoother ride.
I have passed through this at Ben-Gurion just few days ago. By coincidence I am a university professor too and I presented my docs. I passed it quietly accepting with understanding the lengthy security check, but the question of acceptance is subjective, not purely to understanding, but also to the fact, as the report said, that we have no choice. The flight security is my security too, however; the balance point between security needs, logic and humiliation seems to be lost some where at that place and is some times subjectives to personal judgments. With my case this departure check was not the end, at arrival back home I was accompanied aside as an Arab from Jerusalem into a closed room where I passed through all of this again, personally and my luggage. I recall a report in Haaretz about 2 years ago with another professor who was requested to leave his lap top to follow him in a different plane where it later arrived to him in London when about to return back, actually I arrived for departure at Ben-Gurion with worries about a similar experience. It seems from all of that that someone in there is somehow careless about all complaints and probably considers such stories as an indication of his success.
In 2007 I came back 'home' to Israel from a trip to Frankfurt. I was at that time an oleh chaddash, travelling with a Dutch passport. when I asked the custom officer why her line was moving so slow she called the airport police. They detained me for 4 hours and seem to enjoy the game to make me upset. After four hours I was so desperate ( I wasn't allowed to call any one ) that I took my passport from their desk in order to go home. I didn't do nothing after all. I ended up with pepper spray in my face and needed a docter. Then they investigated the matter and said : 'ohhh, you are an oleh chaddash' It was a shocking and traumatic experience for me. The pepper spray litterely closed my eyes, but after this incident it opened my eyes. I made a complaint to the magash, which they didn't take serious. I should have taken a lawyer I have been told. I still regret I didn't.
All interrogations are video tapped. I bet you were combative, rude and confrontational. You probably got what you deserved.
9/11 was in the US, mini 9/11 in London and Madrid, thank G-d not in Tel-Aviv. Profiling? Absolutely, one does not look for ice in the Sahara. As long as the security of Israel's citizens is in the hands of the security services, they decide who gets frisked and who does not. So far, Thank G-d, it proved itself. If the professor does not like it he can move to another country, may I recommend a few if he is interested,
Are you deaf, Avirama Golan has proposed a fair way to deal with this issue. It's very simple, everyone should be thoroughly checked. Don't forget that Richard Reid who was carying expolsives in his shoes in a London-Miami flight was a convert to islam. He didn't have a ''terrorist profile'' and yet he came very close to kill dosens of people. It seems that your racism against the Arabs make you have blinkers. Herzl had a very bad opinion of fascist Jews like you. In his famous novel, Altneuland, he describes someone who has exactly the same mindset than you. At the end of the day, he leaves the country. Rather than telling Khattab to leave, you should maybe seek asylum in a racist country where you'll feel safe.
My wife flew from Geneva to Israel last year to visit her relatives. At Geneva airport, she was subject to two intrusive body searches, two different searches of her luggage plus the endless questioning. She was the last person to board the plane (which looks good with fellow passengers). We never could figure out her crime - a Sri Lankan surname? a transit stop in UAE on the way to Europe (which is pretty routine for Australians)? Whatever. I'm not going, despite her desire to go again and the relatives asking us to visit. I have dark skin so I can imagine it would be far worse. Why put yourself through this and pay for it as well?
Israelis are not just "white" and European looking. We have blacks, browns, East African, Indian, Morrocan--all types. Your experience at the airport will have nothing to do with your skin color. We're not dumb; don't you be.
Apartheid
When asked about security and personal checks att airport or other border stations (boats and trains) non caucasian swedes are beeing checked and asked more often and in a different mannor than others. I agree, this should not be acceptable anywhere in the world, be it of different reasons.
Just a very short question - how many airplanes were hijacked and bombed by the Jews??? And how many by the Arabs? You have big reasons to be suspicious of Arabs....