What Israeli security could teach us

The Boston Globe ^ | August 23, 2006 | Jeff Jacoby

[A. Pole]

THE SAFEST airline in the world, it is widely agreed, is El Al, Israel's national carrier.

[...]

But in telling ways, the two experiences remain notably different. For example, passengers in the United States are required to take off their shoes for X-ray screening, while passengers at Ben Gurion are spared that indignity. On the other hand, major American airports generally offer the convenience of curbside check-in, while in Israel baggage and traveler stay together until the security check is completed. Screeners at American airports don't usually engage in conversation with passengers, unless you count their endlessly repeated instructions about emptying pockets and taking laptops out of briefcases. At Ben Gurion, security officials make a point of engaging in dialogue with almost everyone who's catching a plane.

Nearly five years after Sept. 11, 2001, US airport security remains obstinately focused on intercepting bad things -- guns, knives, explosives. It is a reactive policy, aimed at preventing the last terrorist plot from being repeated. The 9/11 hijackers used box cutters as weapons, so sharp metal objects were barred from carry-on luggage. Would-be suicide terrorist Richard Reid tried to ignite a bomb in his shoe, so now everyone's footwear is screened for tampering. Earlier this month British authorities foiled a plan to blow up airliners with liquid explosives; as a result, toothpaste and cologne have become air-travel contraband.

[...]

But because federal policy still bans ethnic or religious profiling, US passengers continue to be singled out for special scrutiny mostly on a random basis. Countless hours have been spent patting down elderly women in wheelchairs, toddlers with pacifiers, even former US vice presidents -- time that could have been used instead to concentrate on passengers with a greater likelihood of being terrorists.

[...]

[A. Pole]

Bump

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

EL AL needs to expand their airline to fly domestically in the USA, they would be the airline of choice.

[nmh]

"But because federal policy still bans ethnic or religious profiling, US passengers continue to be singled out for special scrutiny mostly on a random basis. Countless hours have been spent patting down elderly women in wheelchairs, toddlers with pacifiers, even former US vice presidents -- time that could have been used instead to concentrate on passengers with a greater likelihood of being terrorists. "

But that's not politically correct and would hurt the feelings of terrorists and those of their ethnicity and belief.

[QQQQ]

Maybe.Unfortunately El Al will hire many locals who have no idea about security.Look who is working in our airports today.Many of the so called "security" people have no military background or hardly can read.I worked years ago in Ben Gurion airport as a security and know how it works.

[Wonder Warthog]

"EL AL needs to expand their airline to fly domestically in the USA, they would be the airline of choice."

Wouldn't work, because El Al wouldn't be in charge of the security screening---TSA is. It would be the same old USA stupid hassle for them, too.

[SJackson]

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[goldstategop]

Jeff Jacoby has it right: in America, we focus on keeping bad things off a plane; in Israel, they focus on keeping bad people off a plane. So with limited resources, what do you do? Check for anything that might be conceivably used as a weapon or check for potential suspects who could pose a danger on a flight. No one likes ethnic profiling but when you consider ALL the terrorists to date who have been caught are MUSLIM, it does NOT make sense to randomly search grandmothers or veterans to avoid causing offense to Muslim feelings. We should not allow political correctness to keep us from saving lives, which counts a lot more in the long run than whether someone's pride was injured during a search of their person.

( No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)

[Schnucki]

Jeff Jacoby has it right: in America, we focus on keeping bad things off a plane; in Israel, they focus on keeping bad people off a plane.

Just like the focus on guns instead of the people who wield them.

[From many - one.]

Sure they can.

1. Accept no checked baggage

2. secondary screening at gate.


I'd pay a lot extra to fly El Al.

[American in Israel]

EL AL needs to expand their airline to fly domestically in the USA, they would be the airline of choice.

To say nothing about the fact that ELAL still serves hot lunch, and does it for free. They do not charge five bucks for a box of crackers from a surly Airline "attendant".

[American in Israel]

it does NOT make sense to randomly search grandmothers or veterans to avoid causing offense to Muslim feelings.

Trying not to offend Muslims is like trying to make people get jobs by handing them more money in the welfare office.

The Muslims are the worlds perpetualy offended, everything in their lives is justified by their long list of offenses.