rattler
18.02.05, 16:15
Niejednemu odechce sie pielgrzymki do Ziemi Swietej , jak to przeczyta .
narazie
--------------------------------------------------
Fran O'Sullivan: How Israeli security tries to win friends and influence
people
COMMENT
Do I fit the profile of a female terrorist?
The thought momentarily crossed my mind when I was singled out for an
intensive search by Israeli security at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Travelling alone, female, running late for the plane. Fits the picture.
The New Zealand-Israel trade delegation had stumped up a US $150 fee to get
me "VIP pre-clearance". This wasn't on the script.
Just that morning VIP officials told me not to bother arriving at the airport
until 90 minutes before the 8.15am flight.
They met me at a special gate well away from the Israeli Defence Force
soldiers with their automatic weapons.
But they stood silently to one side while young, tough-as-nails security
women challenged me over why I had not turned up three hours before
departure. Had it escaped them that I was the only person in the VIP queue -
and not by chance?
All my belongings were pulled from their bags. Why have I got Bill Clinton's
book? they asked.
"I've just interviewed him in London." And he's cool about the security wall,
I murmur, sotto voce. Clinton gets the x-ray.
Who packed your suitcase? Where have you been in Israel? Who can vouch for
you? "Here's Michael Ronen's card (Israel Foreign Affairs), call him - he
knows who I am. His ministry's been showing me around."
They don't do that and by now the game is clear.
Yes, I am a single woman. No, I haven't been seduced by a Palestinian into
carrying a bomb on board, I murmur (under my breath, this time). The laptop,
phone cables and spare batteries for my digital tape recorder are simply
tools of the trade. Was I going to head for the toilet, make a bomb, blow my
BA flight out of the sky?
The male boss from Shin Bet disappears with the laptop. He's gone 30 minutes.
Five security people are now questioning me.
On it goes. Yes, I am a journalist with the New Zealand Herald (you know
that).
Where have you been in Israel? Dead Sea, Lebanon border, Golan Heights,
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. Yes, I've strayed on to the West Bank several times. And
yes, I've been covering the passports story.
I had gone to Israel for an "educational" visit and stayed on to file more
reports when the passports affair took a surprising twist.
Who else was with the mission? Mike Nathan (chief executive of the NZ Israel
Trade Association) and Nevil Gibson (National Business Review editor).
Where were they? Mike was in Poland - his relatives had perished in the
concentration camps. Nevil went back earlier (no problems there - he had been
introduced everywhere as the association's patron).
Why had I brought my flight forward again? Because my son is seriously ill in
Auckland Hospital. I must get to London for my connecting flight.
Why are you calling on your cellphone? I'm trying to ring my brother. He'll
verify this. They are not interested.
No - I would not accept their "offer" to let me depart on time and send the
laptop on a later flight. There has been plenty of time for the download. It
is returned.
I open computer files as requested.
They take the laptop's connecting wires and batteries, stuff them into my
suitcases and push them on to the conveyor belts.
All the papers in my laptop shoulder-bag and leather writing case are taken
out and put in paper bags. The laptop bag and writing case are x-rayed
separately.
A big cardboard box stamped "security" materialises. Into it go the laptop
bag and writing case.
Look, I need that. No - we're sending this separately to Auckland, they say,
refusing any explanation. They then seal the box with blue tape
marked "security" and put in on the conveyor belt.
The laptop and two paper bags are thrust into my hands. Security escorts me
to the plane.
Five hours later I get to Heathrow Airport. The paper bags are coming apart.
I get to Auckland Airport: Anything to declare? A rosary bead.
Hang on, says Customs, what's in this box labelled "security?" It's my laptop
case - just take it.
Herald investigation: Passport