[guidogodoy] Tuesday, November 23, 2010 3:21:20 PM
I've never been to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel either but I know a lot of people who have both from this country and others. As I understand, Israel isn't exactly gun-shy there either. Their airport security isn't made up of a great number of ill-trained, minimum wage employees. From all accounts, you best show up 3 hours early to the airport and be prepared to have any electronic device taken away or even destroyed based on the slightest suspicion. A friend who worked with the Spanish Embassy and is used to such treatment even described Tel Aviv as both "polite" yet "unpleasant." Either you know and are travelling with an Israeli, ARE one or are in a tour group. All others are highly suspect.
450 airports in the USA vs. 1 in Israel hardly makes this a viable option, though. Puffer technology or, better yet, just freeze everyone and treat 'em like freight. No bomb threats, no bad food, not even the problem of getting sick from a fellow passenger if they use enough Saran Wrap. [Show/Hide Quoted Message](Quoting Message by Head banger from Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2:54:49 PM)
Head banger wrote:
they also have people with guns present all over the place, but there are no lines. I dont know, have never been there.
I will say this for having people armed at every counter. when I was in cuba and I saw the guys delivering to a bank or filling a bank machine and 5 guys with AK47s staring down everyone who was near, I crossed the street to avoid them. still a 1 hour lineup is bullshit. that bothers me more than the pat down or the guy eyballing my junk on a screen.
guidogodoy wrote:
The Israeli airport security system is less physically intrusive but is based on racial profiling. Such a system would never be authorized here in the US as, unlike Israel, minorities have strong anti-discrimination rights. More importantly, they have stronger financial and political backing in terms of lobby groups to protect those rights whereas the "common" US citizen does not.
Head banger wrote:
I guess it doesnt bother me, but I am sure there are better ways. Isreal doesnt have planes hijacked or bombed, or lineups, patdowns etc.
