An interesting story has played out on Twitter over what happened to Noor Fawaz, a Palestinian-American journalist, when flying to Israel. It should come as no surprise that she encountered so much trouble on both El-Al and United Airlines, but at the same time, I have to wonder how much is too much.
Palestinian-American Woman Noor Fawaz Shares Of Her Difficult Journey To Israel
You may want to read her story from the source, but rather than embed 70+ tweets, I will summarize what happened below:
- Fawaz booked a trip via Chase to travel from Newark to Tel Aviv on El-Al
- El-Al, as the flag carrier of Israel, has additional screening in place for all passengers and profiling passengers based upon race, ethnicity, or ethnic origin is standard practice (I’ve seen it myself and per Fawaz, this was confirmed by the security personnel questioning her)
- Fawaz was flagged in the system and underwent additional screening
- Her laptop purportedly set off an explosive alarm and she was told that it could not travel with her to Tel Aviv (she pointed out that they offered to ship it to her, which does seem counterintuitive if there was actual concern over explosive material)
- She was searched (forced to strip half naked) and questioned again at the gate (all passengers are, though to varying degrees) and this time her shoes set off an explosives alarm
- On that basis, she was denied boarding…but El-Al immediately rebooked her on United Airlines
- At the United gate, she went through a similar security process (because this is mandated by the Israeli government) but again found herself on the receiving end of additional scrutiny
- TSA agents blamed an email from the Israeli government
- She was allowed onboard with her shoes and laptop and the flight was uneventful
- Upon landing in Tel Aviv, she was pulled into secondary screening and again questioned after waiting two hours
- A visa was finally issued and she was on her way
- When she opened her bag later, she found all the contents reorganized
I was denied boarding on @EL_AL_ISRAEL because they claimed that I was a “security risk.” Here is a glimpse of what it’s like to travel to Israel as a Palestinian, even if you’re an American. It all started when I went to go drop off my bags at the counter at EWR. pic.twitter.com/1W9X9fm3pX
— Noor | نور (@nfwazwaz) July 18, 2023
Fawaz claims the conduct toward her represents unjustifiable discrimination, but suggests that she was subjected to secondary screening not because she was Palestinian, but because of tweets like this:
Israeli Security Is Tough…
Without litigating the Arab-Israeli conflict here, I would say 1.) Israel has the right to protect its borders and 2.) no foreign person, including an American like Fawaz, is guaranteed access to the Israeli state. If an Israeli questioned the right of the United States to exist or applauded attempts to destabilize and overthrow the government, regardless of its very real flaws, I am not sure I would not want that person on US soil.
So in this case, it is not as clear cut as Israel just blatantly discriminating against anyone of Palestinian origin wanting to travel to Israel. But as I mentioned earlier, there is discrimination worked into the system and a former friend underwent extensive security when he traveled to Israel simply because of his Jordanian background…he had no ties to anyone in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza. This is a concern.
When I flew out of Tel Aviv a few years back I underwent a horrific screening because I was originating in Amman, Jordan. I thought it was ridiculous. So I empathize with Fawaz in that respect. The redundancy of the security does seem to be a bit too much.
> Read More: My Horrific Security Experience at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
But still…even though there is a degree of plausible deniability possible with each of those tweets, it is the sort of speech that raises red flags in a place like Israel. Whether it should be or not is almost secondary: it is and that will not change. Her treatment should not have come as a surprise under current protocols.
The question of whether a US citizen should be subject to such blatant discrimination on US soil and by US government agents (TSA) is another matter…we may discuss that in a future post.
CONCLUSION
Noor Fawaz had quite a lot of trouble trying to travel from Newark to Tel Aviv and then obtaining a visa once she arrived. Ultimately, she was still allowed into the country despite questionable tweets, but had to go through extra rounds of questioning and security. I will not go so far as to posit that such security is necessary to protect the Israeli state (it may be, it may not be…I’m not in a position to make that judgment), but I was not at all surprised to read her account and as someone that loves visiting Israeli, I hope she found the inconvenience worthwhile to visit one of the most unique and beautiful places on earth.
When you travel, you need to be aware of potential situations like this. She’s a Palestinian going to Israel? Well, she needed to be prepared. It’s not like an American going to the UK; for decades, Palestinians have been implicated in terrorist acts against Israeli people in Israel. That’s the reality there, they have to be cautious.
I’m an American of Polish descent. If I went to Russia, I have no doubt that there would be issues at the border. Not being a dumbass like the chick in the article, you wouldn’t see a string of whine in social media from me because I know better.
Put succinctly, no sympathy for her from me.
She’s not a dumbass,it seems you are,and an embarrassment to the Pol-Am community making such remarks.BTW,I speak Polish fluently,have a working knowledge of Russian,on my trip to St.Petersburg,my Polish leaning pronunciations were immediately noted and I was treated quite well,one of my most enjoyable trips in fact.
When was it? Being Polish I am 100% sure I would be detained and would probably have difficulty in returning home. Israel, unlike Russia, is tough but fair – those tweets would trigger any security worth it’s salt.
It’s estimated 1 in 6 St.Petersburg citizens has a Polish ancestor,and was common among Russian royalty in this city of the czars.While Angela Merkel,Angelique Kerber,Gunther Grass,all have Polish roots,there is no doubt anti Polonism is stronger there,a nato ally.
I didn’t see her denying the right of Israel to exist, but she wants the promised country of Palestine to exist as well from the screenshots you show.
As to a reaction on her treatment, you could argue either way: one one hand you could see that she was pretty majorly harassed for no apparent reason; on the other, Israeli soldiers have killed a number of Palestinian journalists lately with zero repercussions so you could argue that she’s getting off lightly.
No alternative facts, please. Israeli soldiers font kill without a good reason to, and supporting an intifada means supporting killing women and children walking in the streets of Jerusalem.
They literally killed an American journalist while she was reporting a story live.
Social media can be used against you. As an American who has worked in various security jobs, I wouldn’t try to visit a number of countries while holding those jobs or now retired.
I was subjected to additional screening at TLV on the way back to the US. I was stripped to underwear. They stopped when I asked “do you want to check my shoes? ” and this was before the shoe bomber. They said “no” and ended the search. I don’t know if my dare stopped them but probably not. What triggered them was my short stay in Israel because of a frequent flyer award. They didn’t believe that someone should travel to Israel for 3 days and should wait until someone had more time to spare. They questioned me a lot why I was there only 3 days and how I could get so many miles or points to get an award. I was young back then.
There’s more to this issue. The treatment of Americans of Palestinian heritage is the biggest roadblock to Israel joining the Visa Waiver Program. Apparently the State Department feels Palestinian Americans are in fact discriminated against in their admission to Israel, and until Israel agrees to view all US citizens as equal, Israelis will continue to not be VWP eligible.
This is logical as no other VWP country has a history of discrimination against Americans upon arrival.
Israel needs strong security because they are under constant threat of terror. This year alone two young brothers were murdered. a set of sisters and their mother were executed point blank and a preschool teacher was shot dead in front of her 6 year old just last week and when Israeli children or civilians are killed they hand out candy in Gaza and the West Bank. It is celebrated. The terrorists families are given a stipend buy the Palestinian Authority. I recently saw a video of the Sbarro bombers accomplice where she smiled when she found out that 8 Jewish children were killed in the horrific attack not the 3 that she thought. Strict security will always have its pitfalls, But in this case when you tweet support for an intifada it seems rather reasonable.
That’s a really biased and one-side view of the issue.
No. That’s actually accurate and fair – so called Palestinian government not only harbors but also openly supports, recruits and celebrates terrorists, as evidenced by so many situations each month, if not week. The IDF have their hands full – not because they want to. Israelis are peaceful, fun loving people.
Excerpt from David Lange at https://israellycool.com/
“ While everyone boarding a flight to Israel is asked questions about the contents of their belongings and who packed them, you needn’t be an investigative journalist to discover why she was put through the extra vigorous security. Spoiler alert: it is not because she is a palestinian Arab we want to humiliate for shits’n’giggles; rather, background checks were performed on her – checks that turned up her support of terrorism on social media, for all to see and easily find:”
“ Palestinian arabs pretty much invented plane hijackings, which were commonplace in the 70s. We also know that palestinian Arab terrorists are willing to pretty much do anything, and do not value their own lives, let alone the lives of innocents. Ever wonder why we do not still see plane hijackings on Israel-bound flights, or these flights being blown up? The answer is simple: the level of security to which Fawaz was subjected.”
“ Meanwhile, I am very suspicious of the timing of her tweets, which she posted just as Israel bids to join the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) by easing travel restrictions for Palestinian-Americans.”
“ Her social media reveals she has been to Israel before:… and was likely subjected to similar security checks, yet did not post a lengthy diatribe against them. Rather, I only found a brief allusion:”
“ Surely this “journalist” could have put two and two together – especially if she was asked to provide social media information to Israeli airport security – and understood exactly why she went through the vigorous questioning.
What seems clear to me is Fawaz is not about reporting the truth but about demonizing Israel.”
Ah Israel, the occupying apartheid colonialists…
Aaron, your last point is an interesting one. As the Arab population grows, Israel will need to consider a more draconian form of apartheid to ensure Jewish control of the state. How will Israel be treated when it becomes the modern-day South Africa? (maybe it is already there)
It’s their land they are taking it back from Arab squatters.
Also they would execute your homosexual ass in any Arab nation.
So noone commented on the fact that her laptop AND shoes triggered an explosive device alarm – I am sure there is an error range but twice – ouch. Isn’t that a bit strange. It doesn’t mean she had bombs on her but she somehow was exposed to such materials and unless their machines made an error on two consecutive occasions that is a major red flag to me.
To then say that they harassed her for no reason is ridiculous. You think any of us would be allowed to fly if we triggered explosive materials alarm not once but twice?
I am siding with Israel in their conflict but they have the right to refuse entry to anyone – the same way that we have the right to refuse entry to anyone into our homes. And given her anti-Israel tweets, she sure as heck is no innocent tourist.
“given her anti-Israel tweets”
in a democracy people should be able to say what they want. She did not incite anyone to violence.
Classic example of how Israel is given leeway other countries aren’t given.
Moreover I don’t see any reference to wanting to end Israel or questioning its right to exist in any of the tweets Matthew linked. She is supporting Palestinian statehood (which, as a Palestinian, cannot be that surprising??)
It’s their country, their rules. Personally, I don’t mind as I understand the need given the constant and real threat of terror attacks- and I sure appreciate not being blown up in an airplane.
I always have to laugh when foreigners *demand* entry into some other country. It’s like people demanding to be guests in my house – it’s my choice and no right to entry exists.
And again, let me ask you, if you had tested positive for explosives twice, do you think they would have let you fly? I sure am glad they are erring on the side of safety.
TJA called out exactly what popped out of all that narrative for me- She had explosive residue on her. In several places!!
Quite right the burden for boarding is much higher when that happens.
“right of the United States to exist” is not a valid right because the United States is not referenced in any ancient religious text. You can say “recognize the United States” but not “right of United States to exist”. Both have a semantically different meaning.
For Example – “Hamas refuses to recognize Israel” has a totally different meaning from “Hamas refuses to recognize the right of Israel to exist”.
There is no such thing as “palestine” or “palestinians”
I like Matthew a lot but this article is characteristic of the very different standard to which Israel is held. Any other country doing this would be roundly condemned. But because it’s Israel, it’s fine.
Israel is an apartheid state.
Well, simple answer – if you don’t like it, don’t visit Israel. No one force you to go, no one asked her to go. She wants to enter, it’s their decision who they let in. Neither she nor you nor I am an Israeli citizen and they could reject any of us entering for any reason.
Ahhh — this is a good answer for most people. However, Israel has enforced a blockade of Gaza and other areas of Palestine. Therefore, Palestinians literally do *have* to go through Israel.
Israel wants it both ways. It doesn’t want a Palestinian state, but also doesn’t want to give Palestinians equal rights within a single state (for fearing of jeopardizing the jewish nature of the state). This gets to the crux of why it’s an apartheid state.
“any other country doing this would be roundly condemned”
Read the latest article about an Austrian at LAX, and let me know where the US is condemned.
BTW the reason she was questioned probably had to do with suspicion of being a sex worker which is much less of a security risk than terrorism. Israel is the country that is condemned far more than any other country. Look at the UN security council resolutions, you wont find ones for Iran, North Korea or Syria but you could paper your walls with all the condemnations of Israel.
The Israeli and Palestinian conflict can be seen, factually, from many different views. That is because it has been going on for centuries. Which means that either side can list facts that support their argument because there is hundreds of years of history between them. Which means it will take a long time to earn trust, earning trust takes experience, and experience takes time……. there is no beating that formula. These words hold true on many levels.
It hasn’t lasted hundreds of years. It’s lasted since 1948, or, at the very earliest, perhaps the early twentieth century during/after the Balfour Declaration.
Oh what a show, now that will probably forever eliminate Israel’s chances of joining that VWP, and to think it was set to start next month too….
I do wonder if that was the motive here.
I mean if a country like mine managed to get into the VWP despite being a complete mess not that long ago and having the chances of them being infiltrated by spies from our neighbor, Israel would probably get in too, since there seems to be mutual interest on both side methinks.
I think the title of this story is misleading and should have included the tweets because they were a legitimate reason for further questioning and I would make the case for being denied entry. Intifada clearly means destruction of the state of Israel period
I tend to agree. Even with plausible deniability, intifada carries a very specific historical meaning/context and in the Arabic suggests more than just policy disagreement.