Israeli Foreign Ministry slams airport security for strip search of gay leader

This is what airport "behavioral" screening can lead to:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barcelona-gay-leaders-say-humiliated-at-israeli-airport-1.368505

Two leaders of Barcelona's gay community claim that they were subjected to a humiliating security check at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, while trying to leave the country after participating in last week's Tel Aviv gay pride parade.

The conduct of security at the airport has set off a firestorm with the Foreign Ministry, which had extended an official invitation to the pair to participate in Israel's gay pride activities.

David Marti, the general manager for gay pride events in Barcelona, told Haaretz that airport security had stripped his boyfriend whom he was traveling with. The pair were asked a series of personal questions, which Marti said exceeded reasonable limits. The men's personal items were also thoroughly searched.

Marti said the pair was questioned for a long time, with their security check ending just minutes before their plane took off. Marti and his partner managed to make it to their flight at the last minute.

SNIP

It may be more effective than we do here, as it is human nature to not make eye contact and do other such things when you're doing something suspicious. However, it's far from impossible to train somebody to not do these things. It's really the same skill set involved in playing good poker.

darker skin or the wrong "behaviors," the follow-up screening is far more intrusive than what people experience here from the TSA.

Israel may halt flights to Denmark over security row

<snip>

"Israel is considering halting all flights from Copenhagen to Tel Aviv, Haaretz learned on Sunday, as a response to Denmark's refusal to allow Israeli security personnel to perform independent security checks in Copenhagen for Israel's Arkia Airlines' newly launched Copenhagen-Tel Aviv route.

After a meeting between Israeli and Danish officials over the weekend, it became evident that Denmark is unwilling to allow Israeli personnel to perform security checks on passengers traveling from Copenhagen to Ben Gurion Airport. Moreover, Denmark is also opposed to the Israeli security guards holding weapons in Copenhagen Airport.

Denmark explained that allowing Israel to carry out security checks would violate laws of freedom of occupation and human dignity. They did, however, agree to allow Israeli security personnel to accompany Danish security as they carry out checks. However Israeli security officials have said this offer was unacceptable.

After Denmark's stark refusal to allow Israeli security guards to hold weapons in the airport and to conduct independent security checks for flights to Tel Aviv, Israel is considering halting all flights of the Danish Cimber Sterling airline from Copenhagen to Tel Aviv."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-may-halt-flights-to-denmark-over-security-row-1.369714

to hold weapons in their airports.