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Israeli Airport Security Inspects Some Travelers’ Email: Too Far or Within Gov’t Rights?

Israeli Airport Allegedly Profiling Travelers and Requiring Email Reviews Before Allowing Entry

Ben Gurion International Airport. (Photo: Wikimedia)

Earlier this week, Israel’s international airport security was making headlines for allegedly racially profiling a few Arab-American woman trying to enter the country, asking them to “log in” to email accounts before eventually denying them entrance. Naturally, the women were upset, but the government maintains its right to deny entry to individuals who it believes “could break the law or be involved in violence.”

Sandra Tamari, an American citizen of Palestinian descent, was one of these women. Najwa Doughman and Sasha Al-Sarabi, women from New York City, are two others.

The Associated Press reported that airport security may have suspected Tamari, 42, of involvement in pro-Palestinian activism and wanted to inspect her private email account for incriminating evidence.

According to reports, Israel has begun to require some incoming travelers deemed suspicious to open personal email accounts for inspection. AP stated the practice appears to be aimed at rooting out visitors who have histories of pro-Palestinian activism.

When asked about Tamari’s claims, the Shin Bet security agency confirmed she had been interrogated and said its agents acted in accordance with the law. The Blaze contacted Shin Bet as well received a similar response.

“The actions that General Security Service representatives take in these types of debriefings are in accordance with the General Security Service’s authority by law,” a Shin Bet spokesperson said in an email.

Israel Hayom also includes government spokesman Mark Regev pointing out the “complaints appear to be coming from a handful of activists who have a clear political motivation and a clear political agenda.”

Regev also emphasized the right of any country to deny access to individuals it ”believes could break the laws or be involved in violence.”

First-hand accounts

Tamari, who is from St. Louis, said she arrived in Israel on May 21 to participate in an interfaith conference. She described herself as a Quaker peace activist and acknowledged taking part in campaigns calling for boycotts and divestment from Israel.

Given her activism, Tamari said she expected some security delays. But she was caught off guard by the order to open her email account. She said the agents discovered her address while rifling through her personal papers.

“That’s when they turned their (computer) screens around to me and said, ‘Log in,” she said. When she refused, an interrogator said, “‘Well you must be a terrorist. You are hiding something.’”

Tamari said she was searched, placed in a holding cell and flown back to the U.S. the following day. “The idea that somebody my age, a Quaker, on a peace delegation with folks from the U.S., would be denied entry — that never crossed my mind,” she said.

Doughman, 25 years old and also a Palestinian American, said she underwent a similar experience when she arrived for a one-week vacation on May 26.

“She typed in gmail.com and she turned the keyboard toward me and said, ‘Log in. Log in now,’” Doughman recounted. “I asked, ‘Is this legal?’ She said, ‘Log in.’”

Doughman’s traveling companion, Al-Sarabi, said agents pulled her aside and checked out her Facebook page.

While acknowledging she belonged to Palestinian activist groups when she was in college, Doughman said she insisted the one-week visit was purely for a vacation.

“The interrogator asked me, ‘Do you feel more Arab or more American? … Surely you must feel more Arab,” Doughman said. “I told her I was born in the U.S. and studied there, but she didn’t like my answer.”

Both women said they were subjected to strip searches, placed in a detention center and sent back to the U.S. the following day. Doughman said they weren’t allowed to call the U.S. Embassy.

Tamari and Doughman’s cases were first reported on the anti-Israeli blog Mondoweiss.

Israel has become increasingly strict following a series of run-ins with international activists in recent years, highlighted by a deadly clash two years ago between Israeli naval commandos and a flotilla trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Both sides accused the other of provoking the violence in which nine Turkish activists were killed.

Since then, Israel has prevented international activists from arriving on similar flotillas as well as a pair of “fly-ins” by pro-Palestinian activists. Israeli officials acknowledge they used social media accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter, to identify activists ahead of time and prevent them from boarding flights to Israel.

(Related: ‘Fly-tilla’report: Only 3 activists make it past Israeli security, as dozens turned away at the airport)

So why the measure?

To be fair, Israel is also constantly under attack, which it has used to justify its aggressive security procedures.

Israel has a history of using profiling, calling it a necessary evil resulting from its bitter experience with terrorist attacks. Travelers seen as a risk are often subjected to intense questioning and invasive inspections, including strip searches.

The right-wing Israeli blogger Israel Matzav also wrote on the topic that there was “a lot missing” from the perspective posted initially on Mondoweiss. Here’s what he writes “they’re not telling you:”

First, they don‘t discuss what those gmail searches produced but I’d bet there were a whole bunch of hits from the “International Solidarity Movement” search. I don’t have to tell you all who the ISM is.

Second, a look at Najwa and Sasha‘s linked-in pages produces some interesting information (Thanks to Stephen L for the inspiration). Najwa worked for UNRWA in Tripoli, Lebanon [corrected, CiJ] from January 2010 through January 2011. I assume that was with a different passport than the one used in her two previous trips to Israel. You can’t enter Lebanon with an Israeli stamp in your passport. At the University of Virginia, Najwa was also the President of ‘Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine‘ (sometimes known as ‘Students for Justice in Palestine’).

Doughman soon after this posting de-activated her LinkedIn account — or at least removed it from public view.

Matzav also points out that Israel, like any other country, reserves the right to deny entry to some people. He compares it to the U.S. “no fly” lists.

Airports in the U.S. have even begun asking more detailed questions of its travelers. In August 2011, Boston’s Logan International Airport was one such airport beginning to use “Israeli-style behavior detection.”

 Sharona Schwartz for the Blaze contributed to this report, as did the Associated Press.  

Comments (32)

  • Carp_resident
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 7:03pm

    Every time I fly within the US I get a pat down or x-ray. Last year when I went to Israel I was questioned at the airport when I got there and when I left. I like the questioning much better no matter what reason they may have for doing so. If they want to look at my face book or e-mail I’m sure it would bore them to sleep. LOL !

    Report Post » Carp_resident  
  • miamistorm
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 6:58pm

    “……..Doughman, 25 years old and also a Palestinian American……”

    There is no such thing as a ‘Palestinian American’, there is however Americans of Palestinian decent!
    More division being created by the left to separate Americans from the uniting concept of E Pluribus Unum. Poor dumb creature, she doesn’t realize that kind of crap will never succeed.

    Report Post »  
  • ASonOfLiberty1776
    Posted on June 10, 2012 at 4:09pm

    I would have a HUGE problem with this if this was TSA protocol, but the Israelis can do what they want with their own country. I don’t see why we as Americans should or would have any opinion on this, it doesn’t affect us.

    Report Post »  
  • mzk1
    Posted on June 9, 2012 at 5:23pm

    Why not a Quaker? Because the American Friends Service Committee was anti-Israel before it was fashionable.

    Report Post »  
  • mzk1
    Posted on June 9, 2012 at 5:17pm

    It’s our country; we don’t have to let our enemies in.

    We have too many of them in our universities.

    So for once we weren’t suicidal!

    (Writing from Haifa, on Mount Carmel.)

    Report Post »  
  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:28pm

    It is their Nation, they should be able to do whatever they feel is needed to protected themselves. Nuff Said.

    Report Post »  
  • stotlaat
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:46am

    Israel has different rules than we do and it certainly has a unique situation. We’re all profilers in our personal lives. When your daughter cuts short a date after subtle cues clue tip her off that she should you will support her in that. Israel’s situation is dire if they dismiss red flags.

    Report Post »  
    • Hollywood
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:57pm

      I was questioned by Israeli security before boarding an El Al flight from Montreal to Tel Aviv. I must say, I thought the questions[profiling?] were VERY good, probing for inconsistencies etc. Israel simply wants to exist in PEACE. The terrorist PIGS, clothing themselves in false righteousness, while planning for the destruction of Israel, will and SHOULD meet their god in HELL!
      Genesis 12:3 and Jeremiah 31:31 May the GOD of ISRAEL[HIS chosen people] protect them. Scripture says they are coming in for some very trying times, but not as much as 90% of the wolrd’s population who are against them.
      Maranatha
      P/S I felt VERY secure and safe during the resultant flight. If ONLY the TSA were as efffective

      Report Post » Hollywood  
  • VoteBushIn12
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:39pm

    “Yeah Israel should do it to their citizens… but I would hate it done to me.”

    I swear, this community gets more immature and stupid by the minute.

    Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • Hollywood
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:47pm

      Does the U.S. have anything like the Gaza strip/West Bank, where MOST citizens desire the elimination of the State of Israel?OOPS sorry. I just thought of two: New York and California

      Report Post » Hollywood  
    • ChrisTex
      Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:03am

      We don’t have a West Bank politically, but when it comes to violence and instabilty…..

      We have the southern border…..

      Report Post » ChrisTex  
  • Magyar
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:27pm

    Too far, perhaps by our U S constitution, but it’s not the U S. When’s the last time anyone highjacked and El Al jet and flew it iinto the Temple Mount, eh?

    Report Post »  
  • ourig
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:34pm

    god blass israel and usa as for the moron pro-Palestinian activist i would send you to syria to protest over human right then you can see what is it all about

    Report Post » ourig  
    • Grey Eagle
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:26pm

      I don’t blame Israel either. These Palestinian activists were only there to cause problems. They need to stay in the US and out of other countries business.

      Report Post »  
  • mildot rider
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:15pm

    Question: Would you rather have your e-mail read to fly or would you rather be raped by a filthy Marxist patdown at the airport by an uneducated union thug? I ‘m pretty sure I know which one I’m gonna pick.

    Report Post »  
    • toomuchgovt
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:27pm

      Great point. But I would rather have neither. I understand Israel and have been there. I felt safer flying into Israel than into America or Italy.

      Report Post » toomuchgovt  
  • Auntie izlam
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:13pm

    They need to use whatever protects innocents, period. Obviously their techniques work very well and they don‘t have to manhandle innocent people and they certainly don’t let muslims skip the process as we do. We could learn a lot from the Israelis but alas we are too infested with cultural marxism to pay attention.

    Report Post »  
  • AUsername
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:23pm

    Get a warrant before you search someones email.

    Report Post » AUsername  
    • mohavegreen
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:21pm

      Stay home under your “cloud” don’t email that your not proud of, simple. Don’t visit Israel.

      Report Post » mohavegreen  
    • tzion
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:35am

      They didn’t search it, they asked the person to give them access. Israel is under no obligation to allow anyone into to their country just as those seeking entrance are under no obligation to log in. If they don‘t wish to follow Israel’s procedures they don’t have to. But they shouldn’t expect Israel to just let them in either.

      Report Post »  
  • Stone Cold Truth
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 5:52pm

    Well, whatever Israel is doing it seems to be working pretty well. Maybe we should trade in our naked x ray machines for their tactics.

    Report Post » Stone Cold Truth  
    • Joe Bonham
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 6:55pm

      OF COURSE Blazers would support a blatant violation of travelers’ privacy.

      Small Government… except when it comes to security or foreign policy, or civil rights.

      Report Post »  
    • mohavegreen
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 9:17pm

      Joe: There’s always Syria, Somali, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia they all have beaches, palm trees, sunshine (except the West Bank) and you’ll have all your “rights”.

      Report Post » mohavegreen  
  • mohavegreen
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 5:47pm

    When aboard a plane, ferry, camel, donkey, boat, barge or Land Rover and cross the border into Israel all is fair. If the US had adopted Israel’s flight and disembarking security measures in 1982 it would be a better world today. Good on them for their vigilance, if you don’t like stay away.

    Report Post » mohavegreen  
  • suz
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 5:14pm

    i have absolutely no problem w/this.

    Report Post » suz  
  • americangriffin
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 5:10pm

    WOWI I can’t believe the way this article is worded. “ISRAELI AIRPORT SECURITY INSPECTS SOME TRAVELERS’ EMAIL: TOO FAR OR WITHIN GOV’T RIGHTS?” If this was an Arab country checking emails, it would be a heinous crime. Shouts of oppression from everybody. In America and under our idea of freedom this would be outrageous. What right does the government have to search my email? In the U.S. you need a search warrant. Not to mention that these travelers are only activists. Glenn is wrong. we shouldn’t stand with Israel, we should stand with freedom. Sometimes that means standing with Israel and defending their right to exist as a country. Other times like this article points out, they are not freedom’s friend. Israel’s government is just as prone to evil as any other government. But I guess that’s the difference between me and Glenn. and why I will not vote for Romney and write in Ron Paul’s name.

    Report Post » americangriffin  
    • mzk1
      Posted on June 9, 2012 at 5:22pm

      We don‘t have to let anyone in we don’t want to. If they don’t want to log in, they can turn around and go home – and good riddance.

      Report Post »  
    • tzion
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:40am

      It’s not as though Israel forced them at gunpoint. They simply made it clear that if these people wished to demonstrate that they weren’t a security threat they would have to allow them to conduct an inspection. No one complains when airports scan or inspect your luggage. An Arab country is within its rights to do the same. Meanwhile I‘ll be expressing my right to not have to visit countries that don’t even pretend to offer basic freedoms.

      Report Post »  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:34pm

    Too bad we don’t have a similar vigilance on our borders!

    Report Post » Elena2010  
  • Ceefour
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:33pm

    Ata way to go,Israel, Right On!!!

    Report Post »  
  • christos
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:27pm

    …More evidence Israel is Wise. +++

    Report Post » christos  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:24pm

    If you travel to a Foreign Nation… you subject yourself to their Sovereignty!

    Report Post » lukerw  

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