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Israel Airport Security Allowed To Read Tourists' Email

Posted by samzenpus on from the lets-have-a-look dept.

wiredmikey writes "Israeli security officials at Ben Gurion airport are legally allowed to demand access to tourists' email accounts and deny them entry if they refuse, the country's top legal official said on Wednesday. Details of the policy were laid out by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein in a written response to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), the group said in a statement. 'In a response dated April 24, 2013, the attorney general's office confirmed this practice,' ACRI said, quoting sections of the document which said it was only done in exceptional cases where 'relevant suspicious signs' were evident and only done with the tourist's 'consent'. 'Allowing security agents to take such invasive measures at their own discretion and on the basis of such flimsy "consent" is not befitting of a democracy,' commented Lila Margalit from ACRI."

1 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. If you call the US embassy about this by purnima · · Score: 5, Interesting
    they ask you about your religion and tell you that in any case Israel is able to access your gmail account without your password, because they 7h3y RUL3.

    See The U.S. Government Wanted to Know: Am I Jewish"

    "This is the conversation I recall having with Chris Kain at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv by telephone:"

    CK: Hello. I got your number from ___. You are being questioned by the Israeli authorities, I understand.
    ST: They are threatening to deny me entry and to deport me.
    CK: Are you Jewish?
    ST: No
    CK: Have you been in contact with the Israeli government or military in the past?
    ST: No
    CK: Have you been here before?
    ST: Yes, several times. I am a Palestinian with family in the West Bank.
    CK: Oh, you have family in the West Bank. Then there is nothing I can do to help you. In fact, if I interceded on your behalf, it will hurt your case with the Israelis.
    ST: I don't understand. You are saying you can't speak with them. You have no influence. They are demanding to access my gmail account.
    CK: If they have your gmail address, they can get in without your password.
    ST: What do you mean? How?
    CK: They're good!
    ST: This is crazy. You mean you know about these requests to access emails and you have no problem with it.
    CK: It is in our travel warning. They won't harm you. You will be sent home on the next flight out.I hope I have been of good service to you.
    ST: Frankly, you have done nothing for me.
    CK: Well at least you can say I did it kindly.