Brandon Fried visited Israel May 18-22, 2008.

Zeev Sarig, head of security at Ben Gurion International Airport, hosted dinner at a cozy Jerusalem restaurant on the second night of the Airports Council International–North America Israel security mission in May 2008. I had been invited on the weeklong trip as the group’s lone air cargo guy and listened intently as our charming host filled the evening with lively, interesting, and passionate conversation about U.S.-Israeli relations and current events. As the discussion progressed, it soon became clear why Israel picked the unimposing Six Day War veteran who fought alongside General Moshe Dayan to meet the challenges of running one of the most secure airports in the world.

It is normal to hear about Israel’s practices in any security policy discussion in Washington. Israel’s response to frequent terrorist activity supports an industry thriving on technology, designed to protect the country and its transportation infrastructure. I therefore jumped at the chance to accompany American airport and government officials for a glimpse of what has become the world’s security best practices baseline. It was interesting to find a situation in which airport security and commerce coexist, albeit in a much smaller, more controllable, and perhaps less competitive environment than the United States.

The innocent American culture has been replaced by one of eternal vigilance in the almost seven years since September 11, 2001, as the country awaits another attack.

In the same period, Israel has experienced war with neighboring Lebanon, frequent deadly Palestinian suicide bomber attacks, and constant annihilation threats from Iran and other hostile countries. Despite an adverse environment, its tourism industry thrives with worldwide visitors and foreign investment. One cannot visit a country where Americans are looked upon more favorably. It is therefore crucial that Israel’s main entry point, Ben Gurion International Airport, resist attack. This responsibility belongs to Sarig and his security team.

Along with our group of airport managers, Department of Homeland Security officials, elected community leaders, and biometric experts, I was given a glimpse into what is arguably the most protected aviation facility in the world. The airport has 4,000 employees, 2,300 of whom work in the security division. Each is an Israeli citizen and has served a compulsory military enlistment. Passengers wishing to use the airport must endure a 12-layer security process that incorporates vast amounts of baggage screening technology, personal scrutiny, and risk assessment. Despite their youthful appearance, the security personnel are motivated, alert, and serious.

Unlike most American airports, Ben Gurion’s entire perimeter—not just the airfield—is protected. There are 150 armed officers dedicated to stopping unauthorized entry who patrol the electronic fence. Security personnel undergo 7,000 security drills per year to hone skillful awareness. Visitors traveling by car can access the facility using only two roads, each with full-stop, heavily armed checkpoints. License plate recognition technology is employed on all vehicles entering the airport. A rail service with security personnel on each train serves the facility as well. Once inside the terminal, however, travelers see no conspicuously uniformed armed guards. Security agents disguised as travelers carry concealed weapons. Holocaust survivors have expressed concerns over the use of attack dogs, and therefore these animals are forbidden. Technology constantly monitors floors and the surrounding environment to detect any introduction of explosives or suspicious material.

American airports also use the ideas and gadgets we saw, but the extent varies by geographic location, risk level, and available funds. This seems to make sense, as the terrorist threat in a place like Cedar Rapids, Iowa, probably differs from that in facilities such as New York’s LaGuardia or Washington’s Reagan National. U.S. airports spend money carefully and, unlike their Israeli counterparts, do not address the security task uniformly. Our government mandates the standards and leaves their implementation to the local authorities.

There may be as many as 12 government agencies at a U.S. airport at any given time, each possibly with its own mission and agenda—the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, local police, and state law enforcement to name a few. The Israel Airport Authority is the ultimate government body at Ben Gurion, controlling all security and operational activity, working in conjunction with the Israel Security Agency and the National Police. This alleviates interagency conflict, as decisions are made by one indisputable authority that can quickly respond to security challenges.

Many Israelis I met wondered about America’s preoccupation with political correctness seemingly at odds with common sense. For example, why are 90-year-old passengers in the United States forced to endure the same passenger screening levels as their more youthful counterparts? Why is every airport in America treating passengers the same despite differing threat vectors? Why are pilots screened through checkpoints in the United States despite having control of the plane’s fate? Israelis and Americans may never agree on answers to such questions.

Despite Ben Gurion’s impressive array of security measures, the Americans on this trip concluded that re-creating the Israeli model in the United States is not feasible. While Israel has six commercial airports operating about 200 departures daily, the United States has 450 airport with over 4,000 departure per day. Sacramento, California, for example, has 180 daily departures, while Ben Gurion has just 150. It is much easier to secure a major airport in a small country. Still, Israel is geographically situated in a sea of hostility that America, we hope, will never experience near its own shores. Perhaps this is why Sarig needs as many security resources as possible to protect his airport.

The Israelis were not forthcoming about cargo screening; it appears to be a conundrum to them as well. They too realize that technology capable of adequately screening pallets and unit load devices simply does not exist. Shipments are routinely held for a significant time before departure, making some air cargo services inefficient for occasional shippers.

The American model of fast-paced, just-in-time passenger air freight could never exist in Israel. U.S. shippers have grown accustomed to airlines flying urgent medical supplies, replacement assembly line parts, fresh flowers, and seafood across the country within hours. Delaying the process for days while awaiting cargo screening would not only harm the industry but also our nation’s commerce and economic viability.

However, as the United States begins to roll out its Certified Cargo Screening Program, it is worth noting that Israel also validates frequent shippers, allowing them to become “known” and therefore providing faster flight access. The supply chain becomes part of the security solution because the Israeli government and its citizens understand that their safety and security are most important and, ultimately, everyone’s duty.

Inviting American companies to play a part in airline security injects the commonsense approach that Israel feels is missing from our airport security policy. U.S. Certified Shipper applicants practicing strict security measures will submit their employees and facilities to TSA background checks and validation. Once accepted into the program, participants will become regulated and trusted to enjoy a swifter security process shared by their Israeli frequent shipper counterparts. While TSA will always reserve the right to randomly screen certified cargo, participating shippers will avoid airport bottlenecks caused by those not in the program awaiting potentially slow, yet required, airline screening.

The country known for its extensive security practices weaves its frequent shippers into the fabric of its supply chain security policy through involvement and trust. Americans using the Certified Cargo Screening Program are capable of taking on the same responsibility.