Israeli Company to Plan Security for Athens 2004

Haaretz ^ | July 5, 2003 | Amnon Barzilai

[PeaceCorpsGuy]

Israeli company to plan security for Athens 2004

By Amnon Barzilai

An Israeli company, ISDS International, has been chosen by the Athens Olympic Committee (ATHOC) to coordinate security planning for the Olympic Games scheduled next summer in the Greek capital. The company has already sent a delegation of 34 experts to Athens to prepare the security planning.

The agreement signed between the Olympic organizing committee and ISDS includes 12 separate contracts detailing the scope of the work.

ISDS, owned and managed by Leo Gleser and based in Moshav Nir Zvi, will be responsible for designing the security system

for the Olympic village and Olympic stadium, as well as more than 60 other sites where the sporting events will be held. This also includes the 41-kilometer marathon route.

The company will not be providing its own security personnel, but will be responsible for risk analysis and defining operating procedures. The Greek police will carry out the security mission, together with an Israeli security firm under its command.

Gleser, a former top security officer at El Al, told Haaretz that ISDS was selected without having to compete in a tender against other companies. He noted that the company's 24 permanent employees included many veterans of crack Israel Defense Forces units and former Shin Bet security service agents.

Gleser would not reveal the monetary value of the security contracts with the Athens Olympic Committee.

The company, established in 1982, performed similar work for the organizing committees of the Olympic Games in Barcelona (1992) and Sydney (2000).

Other large projects the company has won include a contract from India to design the security concept for a series of 3,500 transmitting stations scattered along the country's border with Pakistan.

ISDS has also carried out projects in Chile, Mexico, England, Nigeria, and Angola.

[PeaceCorpsGuy]

I've been to Israel four times and if there is one thing that makes them stand out above the rest of the countries I have traveled to (which is over 30) its there security. Guess the terrorists won't have much like in Athens as they did in Munich 1972

[demnomo]

I know someone who is training for the USA Olympic fencing team. He and his fellow team members are not thrilled at the prospect of competing in Greece--well-known for its virulent anti-Americanism, anti-semitism and lax security regarding terrorists and other radical scum...

Hope this news makes him feel better.

On the other hand, if I were that Israeli security company, I'd have a hard time trusting the Greek police force because of its reputation for incompetency and corruption. No way would I visit Greece--especially at that time. I'll bet that a lot of tourits and Olympics buffs feel the same way.

[milan]

If you want security, Israeli trained forces is the way to go.

[longtermmemmory]

anti amerianism? Perhaps your "friends" should focus on training instead of demonstrating their ignorance. Having spent significant times there for pleasure and business, I can tell you the people are most assuridly NOT anti-american. You may see some of the leftist students or albanians marching and the CNN types pick that up BUT that is just leftist media.

Greece is a TOURIST dependent country. They can not afford to be anti-american. Even when the socialist were in power they were careful. No one spends like the american tourist. Even now, they want dollars because the euro is causing inflation.

Greece went through a communist incursion after WWII people died to keep the commies out. (far different from a cold war) During WWII Jewish people went to Athens to get away from hitler. Many of them STILL LIVE THERE. Their children went to school and have families there.

As for lax security, perhaps thirty years ago, but on recent trips I can tell you that greek police are carrying heavier arms and are much much more agressive. I saw them chase down a shoplifter and openly throw in a few extra punches on the thief as he was caught. Security is give wide latitude. (a sad note considering the laid back lifestyle they used to have) The Greeks have been dealing with the illegal immigrants from albania and bosnia.

Before you go shooting out your aquaintances opinions based on ignorance think. (if you aquaintance hates it that much, tell them not to go. Otherwise I will save you an Ouzo at the Taverna.)

[zx2dragon]

interesting article

[demnomo]

Actually, he based his observation on a recent (last fall) visit to Athens when he and his fencing Master were scoping out some pre-Olympic training facilities. Many of the Greeks that they met gave them a hard time regarding the evil president Bush and how America had no business in Iraq. They were flabbergasted by how students would walk up to them (knowing that they were American) and, in perfect English, tell them how they don't want a McDonalds or Starbucks coffee in their country, that the US should not support the evil Israel and should support the brave Palestinian "freedom-fighters," etc...

Maybe my friend and his comrade ran into a spate of bad luck and timing, but their impression of that city (Athens) was far from friendly.

They did, however, do some touring outside of Athens and were treated better by the locals and their guide. Their guide warned them to "lay low" and not "flaunt" their being from the US since some of the state-run TV was running programming that blamed the US for some of Greece's and the world's problems and it angered the socialist scum that dominated the city. (The guide was very anti-socialist and thought that they caused most of his countries' problems way more than American Globilization and culture did.)

The guide also warned them about the Athens police, some of whom were known for harassing young tourists that they thought were in Athens for drugs. (The guide also spit on the Albanians who he said were the main drug-runners and had made the situation intolerable in that area.) I can understand police being suspicious of kids (from Europe and America) coming to Athens for cheap and plentiful drugs, but apparently the guide said that there was a scam going wherein the police would "plant" drugs on unsuspecting tourists and demand a bribe or else risk arrest/jail. (Hmmm. I'll bet that some of those drugs weren't planted, but who knows?)

Yeah, my friend said that outside of Athens, things were very pleasant. But inside the city (at least last fall) they were bothered by the anti-American attitudes of many of the people that they met and that the place was crawling with sullen-faced Muslim-types.

I doubt that my friend made any of this up. He and his fencing Master were looking forward to visiting Greece. They were seriously disappointed by the mood (at least what they encountered) in Athens.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Israelis are going to be in charge of security? This undoubtedly will be the safest Olympics in modern history.

[yonif]

Good news.

[demnomo]

Yeah, my fencing friend got the impression that some clergy members of the Greek Orthodox Church were anti-Semitic (or anti-Israel) when they saw signs posted on a Athens church advertising a talk from a brave "Palestinian Muslim Freedom Fighter" who would speak about the evils of Zionism and how the Jews want to destroy the Church of Bethlehem and how Christians and Muslims must band together to fight the Jewish scourge.

He and his traveling companion also noted the political cartoons that denigrated the evil USA, Israel, and magnified the suffering of the "totally innocent" Palestinians.

IMHO, if the Islamofascist Palestinian terrorists came into power in that region, they would soon go after the Christians and their infidel churches once they pushed the evil Zionist Jews into the sea. An infidel is, after all, an infidel to a radical Islamist. But try explaining that concept to a leftist or anti-semitic Christian clergyman who would much rather blame the Jew than the "friend" who shares his same views regarding the "enemy."

Of course not all Greeks are anti-American and anti-semitic, but it was very hard for my friend to leave Greece without a lot of this ugliness embedded in his brain. It was all so "out there" and abviously not challenged or condemned very publically. It was sad stuff. But then much of Europe is headed this way. It's not just CNN and the leftist media presenting one side of the story. Something bad is going on and I believe that it is rooted in a twisted coupling of Islamofascism and socialism...

[longtermmemmory]

Since I know Greek Jews and have regualr contact with them and they with my family in Greece. I will put more faith in them than in a FRENCH link that you provided. Reality works much better that french delusions.

Sorry no sale.

[Binyamin]

Greece has a terrible record when it comes to anti-Americanism. Only when it became so bad for business (tourism) did they begin to act.

[longtermmemmory]

Since you display your complete ingnorance. You do not adress the source of the articles. Obviously you have no clue how close the ties of Americans of Greek decent and those with family in Greece. The US is not condemed when a Martha Burk and her 50 wacko protesters make issue. But you see one church and you buddy accuses a whole nation?

Murdered during the holocost? You really are fool. During WWII after the greeks told the German army "no" to surrender. (celebrated every Oct28) the proceeded to hide Jews in their homes and families. Monestaries hid whole jewish families. There germans were vicious with vilages which were found to have hidden jews.

Perhaps you enjoy delusions of victimology. As for you golden rule, you obviously are really in need of a reality check. During WWII the italians were pushed back by the Greek armies and irregulars. Then Hitler diverted his armies to take greece and minimize the embarasment. His general sent a message demanding surrender to the greek capital. The Prime Minister (I believe Metaxa) sent a one word response "no". This lead to a brutal slaughter of ALL resistance. Of course there were high deaths, deaths of EVERYONE at the hands of the German army. Chuchill ultimatly said that the Greek resistance of Germanys military bought the alies crucial make or break time. In case you are wondering Jews and Greeks fought side by side during this time. In fact there is a monument in the 1st cemetary of Athens (a prestigeous place to be buried) to the jews who fought in greece during WWII.

Perhaps your french sources are trying to divert attention from their own anti-semetic behavior. Greece and france have exchange some heavy words since france usurped the EU leadership during Greece's EU presidency.

Greece historically and continues to have a heavy merchant marine society. You can not have a cosmopolitan society and a racist society. Will you have your occasional wacko's yes. Thats the freedom of debat. Here in the states we have the wacko groups, kkk and louis farakan. Each with their own wacko agenda, that does not make the US a "vicious anti-semitism".

You are hell bent to hang your opinion on those french newspapers. I can not change whatever is in your head. I can tell you that those who have gone to greece frequently (as americans visiting family roots and for business) and those who have gone back to see where they were born do not espouse your view.

With that said, relax, life is short, sit back enjoy family and try an Ouzo.

[Dog Gone]

I visited Greece for the first time two years ago. I found all the people to be very friendly, both in Athens and in the rest of the country. Greece has a reputation for being anti-American, but I never saw it myself.

[longtermmemmory]

During the Iraq war all treaties were honored, unlike other european "alies". There were also two Greek Naval Ships in the persian Gulf during. (they did intercept a ship with mines)

Was the rhetoric wishy washy, yes there is a socialist in prime ministership, he was kept in check by the growing conservative majority in parlament.

Those of us who remember back to the junta of the 60's and the reforms of the 70's can identify the vocal spoilers. (here is a clue, remember the USSR, they were giving to communist spoilers there just as they were giving to the peacnicks in the USA)

Greeks are pushing to modernize from their agrarian small farm country. (we are talking about a small country)

This all may be moot in a few decades. As the eurocrats are pushing to Federalize the EU with expanded taxing power to ensure entrenchment. Additionally, the European Central Bank is indebting all the smaller EU members. This will keep them in the Euro currency because leaving the euro will be ecconomically painful. Eventually being Greek or Italian or Spanish or whatever will be about as significant as being from kansas or the dakotas. (the french will think they are the equivalent of texas.)

[demnomo]

My friend did say that outside of Athens, Greeks were friendly. Unfortunately, he and his traveling companion had a run of bad luck (as well as memories) in the city of Athens. A lot of what they saw and experienced in Athens was very unpleasant and didn't leave a good impression. (My friend said it might as well have been Paris--before the American tourist boycott.)

Maybe it had to do with the coming war in Iraq. Either way, they are going to the Olympics and hope that the city of Athens' security is tight (for them and the Israeli teams) and that the officials will tone down the anti-American and anti-Semitic stuff that they claim to have seen, heard and experienced first hand.

[Dog Gone]

If I return to Greece someday, I think I'll skip Athens. Sure, it was nice to visit the Parthenon and other sites, but it's mostly a huge smoggy city.

The rest of Greece is the fun part.