Dan Williams and Tim Pearce
Reuters
via Yahoo! News
1/2/2011
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will use a visit to Israel this week to assess passenger vetting and other counter-terrorism measures at its Ben-Gurion Airport, government officials said on Sunday.
Napolitano, whose tenure has been dogged by two attempted al Qaeda attacks on U.S.-bound planes as well as traveler protests at intrusive airport pat-downs and screenings, was due to arrive in Israel by Monday for several low-key professional meetings.
“She’ll be consulting with the Airport Authority, among other things,” said an official briefed on the visit, which will include other countries.
Security at Ben-Gurion, Israel’s main international airport, is considered to be among the most effective in world aviation, though civil liberties groups chafe at what they call a policy of singling out Arab passengers for extra scrutiny.
H/T Stephen J. Robb, Patriot Action Network
