Israel may be a pariah on the world stage when it comes to votes in the United Nations, but “secretly” it is apparently a great leader when it comes to keeping a country’s population safe. Security personnel have been streaming into Israel for years already to learn the ABC’s of keeping their countries safe, starting, of course, with the gateways to their nations — the airport.
Now, in light of the recent crash of EgyptAir flight MS804 and worldwide terror attacks, it’s no surprise to find airport executives from 40 nations are set to arrive in Israel next month.
The international airport representatives will arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport – one of the world’s safest – where they will learn first-hand about creative security procedures.
Since 1972, there has not been a single hijacking incident from Israel. But unless you’re very, very watchful, you would not notice the numerous security layers through which every individual passes at the airport. As such, security at BGI doesn’t disrupt the flow of traffic, nor does it do much to bother the traveler passing through the terminal.
The BGI Airport Security Operations Center, for example, is the heartbeat of the airport, monitoring every flight and checking the background of every passenger and flight crew member who is to pass through Israeli air space. Red-flagged individuals merit special attention and there are at least ten of those per day, according to a report by The Tower, quoting CNN.
But you’d never know it – in fact, one cannot even find it.
Earlier this year Israel also issued an additional security directive to airlines that fly to the Jewish State in order to address other potential threats such as the terrorists who recently were responsible for bringing down a Russian airliner last year in the Sinai Peninsula.
Those include insiders working at airports and resorts with access to passengers’ luggage.
Or, for that matter, airline personnel and cabin crew themselves, such as the depressed Germanwings co-pilot who became suicidal while flying a passenger plane. He took an entire aircraft filled with passengers along with him into death in March 2015.
Israeli security methods work partly because the system is flexible and responsive to dynamic situations, according to aviation security expert Shalom Dolev, who spoke with CNN.
By the time a passenger has reached an airline check-in counter, that individual has probably already passed up to five security checks, usually noticing only three: the initial entry point at the gate, the security check to allow the passenger in to the line for check-in, and the security officer who asks the “annoying questions that make no sense” before one reaches the check-in counter.
When those 40 airport executives leave Israel, they too will understand those “annoying questions” a little better — and perhaps begin to implement similar strategies in their own nations.