Comments on: Death wish

By: suek

suek — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:17:28 +0000

There are other airlines. If people don’t like El Al, they should fly another airline.

My husband – while in the military – flew in the ME. All Arab countries. They were equally security minded, including strip searching. This was in the late 70s, early 80s. My husband speaks conversational arabic – though whether that’s relevant or not, I don’t know.

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:01:53 +0000

Yeah. That was at Rhymes with Right. Here's the link.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:02:16 +0000

(And in addition, the TSA, being a government bureaucracy, would totally screw it up anyway.)

Did you read about the personal testimony of a man and his wife being harassed by a TSA employee because she was in a wheelchair?

By: soccerdad

soccerdad — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:11:36 +0000

I once got hassled. I had a cousin named Terry Smith. Now Smith is a last name that raises a red flag. So when I told the screener that I received a package from Terry Smith though I'd never met her, they grew concerned. Fortunately my uncle, who had gotten the package from Terry Smith was nearby and was able to vouch that she was a real person and that he knew her. You're right of course. I'd also argue that the Israeli courts have gotten too involved in how the government conducts war.

By: Mike Devx

Mike Devx — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:17:43 +0000

I understand that the screening process is critical. The questioners are highly trained interviewers who are looking for warning signs in responses, body language, eye movements, etc. This is why the half-dozen questions can suddenly lead to much lengthier interviews, when something suspicious is observed.

And that’s why this can never work in the USA without incredible changes in our entire system. El Al is very small compared to our airlines. We’re in the mass-movement business, and our security procedures are meant to quickly process hundreds of thousands of people. In addition, the skills required to conduct these interviews would mean hiring thousands of peeople with some large amount of psychological interview training. (And in addition, the TSA, being a government bureaucracy, would totally screw it up anyway.)

By: SADIE

SADIE — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:26:45 +0000

Anyone and every one is given a critical eye by El Al.
The son of a friend, from France, was stripped searched and yes, his father was not only Jewish, but a new immigrant.
While traveling with a friend of mine to Israel some years ago, she was questioned above and beyond the normal range of the half dozen or so basic questions. OH..did I mention she was traveling with me, who holds dual citizenship.
Sounds like equal treatment to me.

You want to fly El Al…you want to go to Israel…then you should be prepared.
Stop complaining about tight security and Entebbe should be a good reminder as to why it is done and September 11, 2001 tells us what can happen when it is not done.