Security is No Joke

Even before arriving in Israel, I knew that the security situation here is super tight, but I didn't realize just how tight until I had arrived. Because I wasn't sure how long I would need to go through customs and immigration at the airport, I did not book a flight down to Eilat. However, the last flight I could find online was at 4:20pm and my flight to Tel Aviv arrived at 2pm. I though I might be able to buy a ticket at the airport and if all else failed, I could go down to Eilat by bus.

Getting through immigration and customs proved not an issue, although a German told me he was stuck for 2 hours there. When I tried to buy a flight down to Eilat, I could not buy a ticket in time for the 4:20pm flight. But there was a later flight at 5:30pm with a different airline. I tried to buy a ticket, but the ticket agent refused to sell me a ticket until I passed security in case I didn't pass or in case the security check took too long. The first security man asked me questions about my intentions in Israel and after 10 min a second security man asked me the same questions and then asked about my previous trip to Egypt, who I knew in Egypt, if I had stayed with any locals, etc. He questioned why I had so few things in my backpack, wondered why I chose to start my vacation in Eilat and so on. After about another 10 min, I moved on to the bag screening. Two women removed everything from my backpack and wiped things down to check for explosive residues. All my possessions were laid out in the middle of the airport for all to see. I felt so exposed. Certain items in my backpack required questioning of their purpose including a waterproof money case. One of the women took my iPad for further inspection to a back room and I was later joined with it for the X-ray screening. I had to prove that my iPad made sounds and was functional. After passing that test, I returned back to my backpack, which was repacked in a haphazard way. Because I had formally passed their 40 min security screen (thank goodness I was the only tourist in line), one of the security women followed me around until I reached the boarding gate. She told me that if she left my side at any point, I would have to restart the security check, which I had no intention of doing. At least I passed and made it safely down to Eilat.

On the way home, I was told that all non-domestic flights are required to stay seated for 30 minutes, the time it takes for the plane to be out of Israeli air space. Even the airline staff is not walking around at this time due to the Israeli government regulations. I met an American who works in Israel and he goes back to the US to decompress from the high tensions in the country and all the security concerns.

Due to the high security risk throughout the country, every mall and large public gathering place has required metal scanners and bag checks just to get in. There are often lines to get into malls because of these checks. For some reason though, the Musluim Dome of the Rock and the Jewish Western Wall have major security checks, but the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre does not. I guess being Christian in Jerusalem is not as much of an issue.

In addition to the security checks, major walkways and all hostels have security cameras. It's very Big Brother here and rightfully so based on all the violence previously seen in the country.

Moreover, buses make mandatory stops at the end of their routes and ask all the passengers to get off the bus. They then perform a bomb check for any packages left on the us. I got on one bus and watched as a passenger brought an unidentified bag to the driver. She seemed pretty scared that someone had left it on the bus, and thankfully, the rightful owner came running back to the bus in time to retrieve it.

This is the way of life in Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces are often seen toting their large guns around as they get on and off public transportation. A local told me that I don't ever have to worry about walking around late at night in Tel Aviv because of all the security cameras and because no one wants to mess with another person for fear of getting shot since many people carry their own firearms and have been trained in the Israeli army. At least in Tel Aviv, I have felt quite safe here.