High-Tech Airport Security to Replace Discriminatory Checks

August 14, 2007

Israel's Transport Ministry has announced new security procedures at Ben Gurion International Airport aimed at reducing the harassment of non-Jewish passengers. Beginning next month, high-tech x-ray scanners and computer software will decrease invasive personal checks. The system of putting different color stickers on baggage to denote Jewish and Arab passengers has already been discontinued. Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz unveiled these new measures at a meeting with Arab mayors in Haifa last week.

The topic of discriminatory procedures, which do not enhance security, at Israel's main airport was placed on the public agenda last December when NIF and Machsom Watch offered to train airport security staff in greater sensitivity towards its passengers. The campaign was launched after the Center Against Racism and Defamation, along with other grantees, documented the harsh treatment of non-Jewish passengers by security staff and protested to the country's transportation authorities. The Citizens Accord Forum and other members of the NIF family met with the IAA to discuss ways of improving the situation at the airport.

Explaining the IAA's new policy, Transport Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadia said: "The inception of uniformly colored stickers for all passengers aims to prevent a sense of discrimination among various sectors."

Amid reports that different colored stickers for Jews and Arabs are being replaced by differing numbers on white stickers, many Israelis are skeptical that the new procedures will result in less harsh treatment at the airport for non-Jewish minorities. However, the great fanfare with which the Transport Ministry announced the changes at Ben Gurion Airport demonstrates that they are sensitive about the allegations of discrimination being leveled at them. The NIF family will continue to monitor the situation to ensure a real change in policy.