• Published 01:43 10.01.10
  • Latest update 15:10 10.01.10

Israeli firm blasted for letting would-be plane bomber slip through

Screening system developed by ICTS International should have flagged Nigerian passenger as security threat.

By Yossi Melman Tags: Israel news

The Israeli firm ICTS International (not to be confused with ICTS Europe, which is a different company), and two of its subsidiaries are at the crux of an international investigation in recent days, as experts try to pinpoint the reasons for the security failure that enabled Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board Northwest flight 253 and attempt to set alight explosives hidden in his underwear.

A Haaretz investigation has learned that the security officers and their supervisor should have suspected the passenger, even without having early intelligence available to them.

At this time, ICTS and the Dutch security firm G4S are hurling recriminations at each other, as are the authorities at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Federal Aviation Authority and U.S. intelligence officials.

The failure was a twin flop: An intelligence failure, which U.S. President Barack Obama has already stated, in the poor handling of information that arrived at the State Department and probably also the CIA from both the father of the would-be bomber and the British security service; and a failure within the security system, including that of the Israeli firm ICTS.

The ICTS daughter company, I-SEC, has another daughter company - called PI (Pro-Check International). The firms provide security services to airports: consultation, instruction, training, inspection and supervision.

Two decades ago, ICTS adopted the system used in Israel, namely of profiling and assessing the degree to which a passenger is a potential threat on the basis of a number indicators (including age, name, origin and behavior during questioning). At the same time, a decade ago, the company developed a technological system called APS (Advanced Passenger Screening).

This system is based on a computerized algorithm, and is fed passenger information from the airline company. The system was offered to the Israel Airports Authority and the Shin Bet in the past, but rejected. According to the company's Web site, most of the large airlines in the United States use the system.

However - in real time - the system of ICTS failed. Even if U.S. intelligence failed and the name of the Nigerian passenger was not pinpointed as a suspect for the airline, he should have stirred the suspicion of the security officers. His age, name, illogical travel route, high-priced ticket purchased at the last minute, his boarding without luggage (only a carry on) and many other signs should have been sufficient to alert the security officers and warrant further examination of the suspect.

However, the security supervisor representing I-SEC and PI allowed him to get on the flight.

ICTS was established in 1982 by former members of the Shin Bet and El Al security. Menachem Atzmon, who has been chairman of the board of directors since 2004, holds the controlling shares in the firm.

The ICTS headquarters are in the Netherlands and the company is traded in the New York Stock Exchange. Some senior managers are Israeli, including the joint managing director Ran Langer.

Another important figure is Doron Zicher, general manager of I-SEC. Zicher has been in charge of operations in the Netherlands for more than two decades and has served as adviser to the Dutch Justice Ministry, which is responsible for setting guidelines for airport security.

The company prides itself on employing 1,300 persons and providing security services to airports in 11 countries including France, Britain, Spain, Hungary, Romania and Russia.

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  • 117. 0 0
    VISA and LAGOS AIRPORT
    • AJ Weberman
    • 18.01.10
    • 17:43

    There was a lack of security at LAGOS airport as well as at the Embassy that issued the visa. The security firm in Amsterdam figured if he got this far...

  • 116. 0 0
    TO NO 4 MIRIAM MORTIK
    • DANNY
    • 12.01.10
    • 18:23

    MIRIAM. AT LEAST ONE THING THAT IS GREAT, THAT WE HAVE, ISRAELS AIRPORT SECURITY IS BEST IN WORLD.

  • 115. 0 0
    TO HAARETZ.
    • DANNY
    • 12.01.10
    • 18:19

    HAARETZ HEAHTHROW IS FULL OF MOSLEMS WORKING FOR THE AIRPORT, YOU CANT KID ME THAT THEIR ARNT ANY ARAB OR MOSLEM SYPATHISERS AMONGST THE WORK FORCE.

  • 114. 0 0
    TO NO 2.
    • DANNY
    • 12.01.10
    • 18:15

    GO ON AMERICA BLAME ISRAEL FOR YOUR SECURITY INCOMPETENCE BALLS UP, IT WAS DOWN TO AMERICAS POOR SECURITY NOT ISRAELS.

  • 113. 0 0
    YeaH ...sure blame Israel Blame Jews
    • ben Zolly
    • 12.01.10
    • 07:24

    "Its the old "Blame the Jews for everything "CLUB! Its 4000 yrs old. We Jews should have kept God a secret.

  • 112. 0 0
    Dutch's people
    • Arnold
    • 12.01.10
    • 03:59

    It was the security people in the Netherland's ...your people that should have picked up on this guy. One way ticket, no luggage. DUHHHHHHHH Just like you Dutch. Or should it be Duuuuuutch.

  • 111. 0 0
    Well, now...
    • escapefromobamastan
    • 12.01.10
    • 01:31

    Is this the same Israeli security firm that was in charge of all the airports that were involved in 9/11 or was it another that was in charge of that HUUUUUUGGGGEEEE failure. Shouldn't an AMERICAN security firm be in charge of such a sensitive position???!!! Just waiting for the upcoming revolution, which is bound to occur.

  • 110. 0 0
    just a little of waterboarding and Omar Farouk Abd El-Mutallab
    • VIP prep or for $$
    • 11.01.10
    • 21:58

    will start singing it all. Who was the older aged Hindi dressed handler filmed at the ticket counter in Amsterdam negotiating El-Mutallab's boarding pass with no passport to show ?

  • 109. 0 0
    CAMERA IMAGES and the Bombers Handler
    • DGS
    • 11.01.10
    • 20:44

    Thank You for the post J Ghanim, the IMPORTANT points are being cleansed by the PysOp media. Who was the bombers ESCORT? Why was this man ALLOWED on a PLANE with NO PASSPORT? Us humans would have been laughed at or ARRESTED for trying something like "getting on an INTERNATION Flight with NO PASSPORT. Shine some light on that one Harretz... instead of printing and "many more signs" Thank you for printing the story. FINALLY.

  • 108. 0 0
    Blame the ISRAELI Firm NOT Israel
    • DGS
    • 11.01.10
    • 20:35

    Two things. Who was the man ESCORTING the bomber? and WHY was he ALLOWED on a plane with NO PASSPORT? The authorites would LAUGH at us if WE showed up at a terminal w/o our PASSPORT, but this guy waltzes on a plane.... I also noticed in ALL the stories they are, as in this one, omitting this fact with the catch all phrase "and MANY other signs".... REALLY.."MANY other signs" Would seem the so-called INTELLIGENCE Agencies are getting sloopy, with their FalseFlag Ops. Doesn't surprise me though, as the Ruling Elite CONTEMPT for us humans grows. This one is SO OBVIOUS is stunning.

  • 107. 0 0
    security
    • dahoit
    • 11.01.10
    • 19:21

    basic solution;until there is security for all there will be security for none.

  • 106. 0 0
    Hardly a slip up....
    • Dutch
    • 11.01.10
    • 13:22

    That's not the way many Americans are reading it today. Israel is heading for big trouble. Dutch

  • 105. 0 0
    Israeli company screwed up
    • AJ
    • 11.01.10
    • 13:21

    Israel has a big reputation to live up to for its security in general and aviation security in particular. Our experience in dealing with terror and threats against our civilian population has been commercialised by dozens of companies that conduct business around the world. They use Israel's reputation and renown to promote themselves and their systems. In this case, an Israeli company SCREWED UP and all the hype about infallible Israeli aviation security may be misplaced. Everyone is fallible and this company must acknowledge its failings and either fix them or get out of business. Apart from endangering an aircraft and 200 plus passengers on board, it has given the Israeli security industry a bad name. Poor form!

  • 104. 0 0
    A bit touchy, aren't we?
    • Merinas vander Lubbe
    • 11.01.10
    • 12:39

    Who's blaming **Israel**? If anything, one can only blame this Israeli *firm*. The article says the Israel Airports Authority and the Shin Bet rejected the ICTS system, but most of the large airlines in the United States BOUGHT it? Only an idiot, or an Obama voter (But I repear myself...) would blame **ISRAEL** in the light of THAT... Israel had enough sense not to BUY the damned thing!

  • 103. 0 0
    9/11, shoe bomber, underwear bomber
    • Steve
    • 11.01.10
    • 11:13

    What do all of these incidents have in common? ICTS

  • 102. 0 0
    Mossad False Flag Op
    • Sean
    • 11.01.10
    • 10:31

    I wish it was less blatant...

  • 101. 0 0
    Connect the dots pt2
    • Moshe
    • 11.01.10
    • 10:31

    9/11, 7/7 etc all had isrealis 'proecting ' the airports and undergrounds as well...funny that....

  • 100. 0 0
    Mossad Behind Terrorism
    • Moses
    • 11.01.10
    • 09:48

    No mistake was made. The underwear bomber was intentionally put on that plane by Mossad, and allowed to travel by the Mossad front company ICTS. Mossad also did the 9/11 attacks, with a little help from the CIA, Pentagon, and the White House.

  • 99. 0 0
    Wheres the PASSPORT
    • curious cat
    • 11.01.10
    • 08:32

    why did they let him board with no visa or passport?

  • 98. 0 0
    Israeli firm
    • Jimmy
    • 11.01.10
    • 01:08

    "Israeli firm" is not Israel. Now , don't we all feel silly

  • 97. 0 0
    What security weaknesses were exploited?
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 11.01.10
    • 00:29

    Several things SHOULD have marked Abdulmalallab as a potential threat. 1. paying cash for a one-way ticket. 2. amplified by having no luggage. 3. coupled with his age and sex. How these factors were masked. 1. purchase of the ticket in advance in Accra, Ghana. 2. then goes to Nigeria where he boards a flight to Amsterdam. 3. transfers to a flight on another airline (same ticket) in Amsterdam. Clearly the planning of the mission was far better than it's execution. The planners divorced the cash purchase from the actual departure location. The flight switch helps mask the lack of luggage. The planners introduced 'noise' into the situation which tended to separate and mask the flaming datums that should have set off alarms. Fortunately the kid was incompetent or his training deficient. This security failure involved multiple point failures by numerous governments, agencies and individuals. It was a system failure, not culpable negligence.

  • 96. 0 0
    78 sentimentalady
    • Hugh
    • 11.01.10
    • 00:19

    "Negligent workmen blame their tools." I would cerainly have to agree with the concept that the people of ICTS are tools.

  • 95. 0 0
    AIso responsibIe for Ietting Sept. 11th hijackers through
    • Gabriel
    • 11.01.10
    • 00:13

    They're the security firm who let several of the hijackers through, along with Richard Reid--the shoe bomber. Is this more strategy to get us to go after Iran, similar to the one used to get us into Iraq? Did you have Mossad agents waiting to "document the event" and celebrate it, as you did Sept. 11th? Bibi was right, this terror business is great for Israel. With allies like Israel, who needs enemies?

  • 94. 0 0
    dana - the word online
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 11.01.10
    • 00:11

    "The word online is that this was a classic false flag operation" - dana Run by whom? Fox News, the Republican National Committee, Iran, the Masons or the Illuminate? "The shocking thing is just how much of the security infrastructure the world over is handled by Israeli firms." - dana Israel was coping with this sort of terrorist threat long before most of the world was dana. There is not a shred of evidence that some conspiracy so vast was involved dana, or that anyone deliberately allowed the jerk on the plane. William of Occam's Razor would shave your hypothesis down to a naked nothing in a single second. . .

  • 93. 0 0
    Bill, that is because google is programed to
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 11.01.10
    • 00:06

    Bill, Google picks up common errors and similar words because it has been programed to do so. Common misspellings are listed, as are common keyboard induced typos (teh). As are notable names and common misspellings thereof. Google might catch a misspelling of "Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab" today, but I bet it would not have before the jerk became famous. There is the old 'programmer's curse: "Why won't this #&@!$&# computer do what I want it to instead of what I tell it to do"?

  • 92. 0 0
    To Bill # 60 The mathematics wizard wannabee, From Igor
    • Igor
    • 11.01.10
    • 00:00

    You misunderstand or only know how to add . The Ferrari is not at fault. You are great mathematician!! but forget to write where you are from for some reason !!. It is enough that your driver in the Ferrari is 49% to make the FATAL mistake.Go do infinitessimal calculus, fourier transforms and some statistics and variations before you reply to me. YOUR IGNORANCE IS OVERWHELMING. Anyway this is not the issue. You go and buy non-IL security apparatus and get blown away.That is why they have 98% market share.Your answers do not meet my standards. Just go away.

  • 91. 0 0
    Try blaming Amsterdam airport's workers. They may be for somethin
    • Dwido
    • 10.01.10
    • 23:01

    How did he get onto the plane. From the baggage pit? Most possibly helped on the ground by workers on the tarmac of Amsterdam's airport. Similar situations were uncovered in Paris and other european airports a few years back.

  • 90. 0 0
    crawling up to the Iranian terrorists
    • Michelle Wayne
    • 10.01.10
    • 22:55

    That's what happens Mr Obama when you crawl up to muslim terrorists !

  • 89. 0 0
    He didn't slip through
    • j r
    • 10.01.10
    • 22:42

    He didn't slip through security, he was slipped through by security. So obvious.

  • 88. 0 0
    Not Terroisim
    • Tyra
    • 10.01.10
    • 22:24

    The so called Terroist 1)Had No passport 2)Was helped onto the plane by someone who spoke to security 3)He never spoke at all 4) Seemed to drugged 5)The explosives he had in his underpants needed a detonator, other wise it would not blow up anything. No detonator was found. Makes for good advertising to buy the scanners that see every part of your body all naked however. Lot of profit. Gives the US an excuse to kill thousands of Yemens as well. Most of which are kids. Something is terribly fishy about the whole thing. This will probably not be published however but the readers and writer of this article should know the truth. There were witnesses.

  • 87. 0 0
    Not an attack on Israel
    • R Sherman
    • 10.01.10
    • 21:53

    So people seem to be saying this is an attack on Israel -- NO ITS AN ATTACK ON A PRIVATE COMPANY that happens to be Israeli. Why do some many people always blur criticisms of individuals (or governments) into attacks on Israel as a state etc?

  • 86. 0 0
    Mark of Lewiston I agree
    • Tyra
    • 10.01.10
    • 21:46

    All private contractors for security world wide should be fired.

  • 85. 0 0
    A Haaretz investigation? say no more
    • PETER SM
    • 10.01.10
    • 21:01

    There is only ever one outcome. Headlines to stir the up the mob. Facts on the ground? Well a second hand non eyewitness report which is rejected by the very people quoted is factual enough.

  • 84. 0 0
    #80 - directrob
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 20:52

    Hi :) don't people program the "systems?" shouldn't the baggage check-in have been a little more "suspicious, perhaps?" With one-way tickets, shouldn't the boarding agents be a little "curious" perhaps? As people, we must accept accountability. No?

  • 83. 0 0
    blasted
    • directrob
    • 10.01.10
    • 20:42

    I did not read anything about a "blast". Probably Haaretz means criticized. Still it is comforting to know the man was at least known to the system. At the same time it proofs that computer profiling is still very buggy, do those systems work at all?

  • 82. 0 0
    #80 to Bill
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 20:31

    Bill, we have to try to educate ignorance, not "fight" it, because then, that shows our own ignorance. They in turn, will "fight" back, and we end up on a not-so-merry-go-round of "fighting." Nachon?

  • 81. 0 0
    #79 to Dana
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 20:21

    Dear Dana, I don't know what the Nigerian said to the ticket agents about not having luggage, etc. Do you? Nor why he had a oyne-way ticket? Look at the guy who sneaked through Newark Airport to kiss his girlfriend last week. Do you really think Israeli firms had something to do with that? And what about that couple who "crashed" the President's first State Dinner last month? Another security problem. It's people, Dana, that are at fault, and not doing their jobs.

  • 80. 0 0
    Phineas
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:58

    My pleasure.It's always gratifying to fight ignorance wherever it's found.

  • 79. 0 0
    May be it wasn't the system that failed
    • dana
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:56

    may be the system worked exactly as intended. The word online is that this was a classic false flag operation and icts played it's part, as it had to. The fact that the nigerian got on the plane as easily as he did, when 70 year old grandfathers are subjected to extreme scrutiny, should be indication enough. Only question is who benefits? The shocking thing is just how much of the security infrastructure the world over is handled by Israeli firms. That is what should be examined. Especially as israel is a country that's acting like a lunatic on furlough from the asylum, and we expect their firms to be uninfected? I would feel much safer knowing security is handled by companies that are not headquartered in a country known for caring so woefully little about the welfare or opinion of anyone in the world not themselves. Extreme selfishness and security do not mix well. Time for some new companies with better international credentials to handle the safety of the world's passengers

  • 78. 0 0
    #73 to Hugh
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:56

    Something a NYC resident who is a plumber from Greece once told me, when he had a hard time fixing a leak in our house: "Negligent workmen blame their tools."

  • 77. 0 0
    #70 Labhras. Visionary in his own mind.
    • H
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:51

    "Always drawing the Antisemite card" Well no, that's not true, "As to the concept of Israel being pristine pure---Poppycock." Wow, such language, but again that's not true. I don't support the expansion of settlements and I think the country is sinking fast. "Boy are you one naive brit??" Well everyone that doesn't agree with you is Naive. All those Rangers/ Celtic matches, those Orange boys (Protestants) and the Finyans (Catholics)..I grew up with that in the Gorbals in Glasgow. That's where I learned at the age of four that I killed Christ. Naive? Are you kidding? You've just insisted that Israelis are never charged with abusing Palestinians, like you know this for a fact. Well it isn't and that makes you a bigot. Bigot to Antisemite...no distance at all.

  • 76. 0 0
    #12 to Yosemite
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:50

    Oh, come on, Yosemite, you must be joking. Has hollywood blinded you by the lights? Please wake up, and get your head out of the fog.

  • 75. 0 0
    #4 to Miriam
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:42

    The other night on the US news, President Obama said that "the buck stops with me." And, the scapegoat went out with the destruction of our 2nd temple. Thank goodness, because I love animals. Anyway, I don't believe the administration is blaming Israel. As usual, I believe this is coming from the ignorants of the world, who are all grouped together under the force known as evil, which all righteous people must eradicate.

  • 74. 0 0
    Wonderful _ Right On. Continuous Non Issue, Invented Fodder
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:41

    to identify the racists around the world. Good work Haaretz.

  • 73. 0 0
    34 Proud Israeli
    • Hugh
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:35

    "Weren`t we also responsible for 9/11 and the Bubonic Plague, Krakatoa.... and what about that meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs?" Um, no. ICTS wasn't in charge of security in Middle Ages Europe, or at Krakatoa, or in the time of dinosaurs. HOWEVER, it was in charge of ALL the airports from which 9/11 highjackers boarded, AND the airport from which the Shoe Bomber boarded.

  • 72. 0 0
    Bill _ Thanks Again. Your Patience With Me and Your Kind
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 19:12

    explanation saved me the time to look up the meaning of "ad hominem". I should have taken Latin so that I would not get embarrassed on Haaretz Talkback. Much appreciated.

  • 71. 0 0
    The Human Touch
    • Wonderful
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:48

    Blast, what blast? Seems that the only blasting being done is by a Haaretz reporter seeking to bring down the Israeli company's stock! The Human Touch. Last summer I flew to Israel and back via British Airways. When departing Israel I was politely questioned by a cute young lady, who seemed rather efficient and curious. At Heathrow airport, I was at no time talked to by a human being, except when choosing a seat and being asked to remove my shoes. From the article I am not sure of what the company actually does, but until human beings begin to tackle this problem with the help of human instinct and training, how are we to put all our hopes in a machine?

  • 70. 0 0
    #48 H --it is not anti semitic to condemn the GOI
    • Labhras
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:45

    Maybe you were not aware but Israel has a 20% non Jewish populus. Always drawing the Anti Semite card. Pathetic. As to the concept of Israel being pristine pure---Poppycock. There is very little Israel will not get up to , to get it,s way. Learned it from Britain and the Usa to mention just a couple States who dabble in covert ops.Remember the dodgy Dossier or the "Vile--Phial". Boy are you one naive brit???.

  • 69. 0 0
    Bill _ I Don't expect An Apology and None Is Required
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:45

    As far as standards are concerned, I don't expect you to meet those either. But thank you for your kind words.

  • 68. 0 0
    Sorry again Phineas
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:43

    Ad hominem is one of those sophisticated Latin terms that you're not likely to understand, so let me explain it to you. It means don't shoot the messenger simply because you don't like the message.Or, in more relevent terms, don't label someone as a racist when he brings up an argument that has nothing to with race. There now, today hasn't been a total waste for you -- you actually learned something.

  • 67. 0 0
    they wanted him to succeed
    • wingnut
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:35

    Don't you get it he was allowed on. Someone somewhere actucally wanted this idiot to succeed- the fall out from his success would keep all the BS going !

  • 66. 0 0
    Phineas
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:27

    Save your ad hominem rants for some other venue. While you may not have agreed with my answers, I didn't label you or anyone a racist. So keep on taking the low road, pal.

  • 65. 0 0
    Proud Israeli
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:27

    Ken, I'm with you on all this. Boy, do Jews have all the power, we wouldn't be in the position we're in most of the time. We'd be able to subjugate the world, which we probably can, but that's not our way nor goal. We are taught to respect all people, and their freedoms. My dad used to tell me, "every knock is a boost," : ) I love you daddy. : )

  • 64. 0 0
    Zicher Needs To Step Down After 20 Years
    • Laguna Geno
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:23

    Too much 0of the good life has clouded his sharpness!

  • 63. 0 0
    Blaming Israel
    • sentimentalady
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:23

    Here we go again, blaming Israel, rather than the people who are supposed to monitor the statistics, facts, or whatever else they are trained to do. This whole thing where Jews are blamed for everything that goes wrong, just makes me sick. I know Israel needs the US's help, but I wish Israel would stop cowtowing, and being ingratiating. The US needs Israel perhaps even more. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF ISRAEL! I love you forever.

  • 62. 0 0
    Sorry Phineas
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:22

    I was only answering a question from one of the posters. Sorry if the answers didn't meet your standards.

  • 61. 0 0
    NYC Guy _ Clearly You Are Angry That You Were
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:20

    denied a job with Goldmans...so you invent stories and post them. Don't blame the Jews. Learn about your limitations. Try a shoeshine stand on fifth Avenue. I wish you well.

  • 60. 0 0
    To Igor
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:19

    According to your logic, only 50% of the blame lies with the operator. Leaving a full 50% to the device. If that's your idea of perfection, you should be signing up for a remedial course in math.

  • 59. 0 0
    Camera Images
    • J Ghanim
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:17

    If this one company is not to blame, why is it that they security tape images of this man boarding the plane and the man who assisted him thru the security checkpoint are still being classified and not released for public scrutiny ? The answer,. - this was purely a Mossad operation, with this man's handlers helping him thru security AND filming him while he was on the plane.

  • 58. 0 0
    43 Sabra - Works Fine for Me
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:09

    That would be fine. I didn't design the system. I just am afflicted with a memory of what was said and what promises were made, i.e. no contractors and no foreign workers. If the system still allows either then those in power at the time lied. That wouldn't be a first either.

  • 57. 0 0
    Heb. version : ICTS checked 9.11 US Boston &Newark; airports
    • Ofra
    • 10.01.10
    • 18:01

    http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1141519.html

  • 56. 0 0
    Bill # 54 _ As Long As You Keep Eating It Israel Will
    • Phinias whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:59

    do that. Bon Appetite.

  • 55. 0 0
    To David
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:45

    If a Swedish piece of equipment failed and left us vulnerable, don't you think we'd re-evaluate our choice of Swedish equipment? Wake up. You seem to think Isreal is so sweet it sh*ts ice cream.

  • 54. 0 0
    Bill _ Save Your Rants To The Nights When You Wear
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:44

    white hoods. This story is not about Israel and appreciation. It's about someone who attempted to kill 300 people and how security failed. You may be better at cross burning than posting here. Go for it.

  • 53. 0 0
    Well, Now We Find That ICTS Does Not provide
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:40

    security nor has any connections with the airport in Amsterdam. Blame the Jews never-the-less. Ya'll know what you can do with yourselves.

  • 52. 0 0
    To Mark Lincoln re spelling errors
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:36

    I guess you haven't seen the internet in the last 10 years. Google often picks up mis-spelled input and suggests alternatives.

  • 51. 0 0
    To flower
    • Bill
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:31

    There are any number of things that Israel is not guilty of. Wanting peace in the middle east. Being appreciative of UN protection from the US Being appreciative of the $4b in aid we give every year Being sensible Shall I continue?

  • 50. 0 0
    Bill
    • Boston
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:25

    The company prides itself on employing 1,300 persons and providing security services to airports in 11 countries including France, Britain, Spain, Hungary, Romania and Russia. They have to be proud of SOMETHING. After all, their products don't work.

  • 49. 0 0
    Israel mean Cadima for ever
    • Zaina
    • 10.01.10
    • 17:08

    Shalom every body&any; one in our freindship state Israel should vote to Tsivy Leafny her highness Because she will save Israel state for ever

  • 48. 0 0
    #41 Kazza "How is this Antisemitic?"
    • H
    • 10.01.10
    • 16:40

    Please refer to #45 NYC Guy. His interpretation is only one step away from, Israel knew and allowed it to happen, in the hope that they would receive more American backing in their continuous assault on Palestinian Land.

  • 47. 0 0
    asleep at the wheel
    • inisrael
    • 10.01.10
    • 16:32

    Why blame ICTS? I'm sorry to say but half of the people working airport security can barely tell their left from their right. ICTS can only give the security personnel the tools do to their job. It's not their fault if some one implements what they've been taught.

  • 46. 0 0
    to the Moderator
    • no need for name
    • 10.01.10
    • 16:26

    Please read the last line for # 32 Well it wasn't the US There might be some truth to that.

  • 45. 0 0
    Had the bomb not failed
    • NYC Guy
    • 10.01.10
    • 15:55

    I wonder would Netanyahoo have said "This is good for Israel"? The security firm would have been dancing like the 5 Israeli agents did in NJ on 9-11.

  • 44. 0 0
    TO ALL POSTERS- READ THIS
    • Igor
    • 10.01.10
    • 15:40

    Folks, you know that when I have a great car, I can do great things while driving. HOWEVER, 50% of the success is due to the DRIVER. So dont expect PERFECTION if your driver is Bart SIMPSON and not SCHUMACHER. Do your best to get the best. The equipment IS perfect all the way. ITS THE SINGER, NOT THE SONG.

  • 43. 0 0
    Mark Lewsiton fiore evgerybody
    • sabra
    • 10.01.10
    • 15:29

    mark ... who are you going to fire when the government employee gets it wrong, and a terrorist gets trhough. Security must get it right 100 percent of the time, the bad guys just have to get it right once. Who will you blame then? The only assured way to avoid situations as what recently happened is to have everyone flying strip down and do cavity searches, then re dress, and move to a safe and secure lounge , then board the plane, perhaps better yet, issue each p[assenger a puistol with one round each. Want to bet no one will pull any stunts

  • 42. 0 0
    everytime
    • Alice
    • 10.01.10
    • 15:25

    Terrorists try again and again to kill us infodels. Security has to guess and get it right everytime to foil the vatious plots. The Terrorists only has to get it right once. No system is foolproof, these systems will from time to time fail. How much freedom will we have to give up in order for us to be 100% secure. Everyone bording flight 257 would they please strip down to their underwear, and board the plane...naked flying... now that would work

  • 41. 0 0
    How is this anti-semetic??
    • Kazza
    • 10.01.10
    • 15:05

    How can some of you say this is anti-semetic?? Just because it's an Israeli company that's being investigated? It's you people labelling the questioning of anything involving Israel as 'anti-semetic' that are feeding prejudice. If the article was questioning a Nigerian security company would you say it is racist against blacks??? If this company should have caught this man, then there were failings that must be investigated to make sure no one else slips through again in the future. Regardless of whether the company is Israeli or not. Or does being Israeli exempt them from the standard processes that every other company in the world follows?

  • 40. 0 0
    so Israel send its rejects to work for the US?
    • samos
    • 10.01.10
    • 14:40

    nice 'pay-back' for the US' financial and UNO support!

  • 39. 0 0
    From ICTS Europe's website...
    • Manic Drummer
    • 10.01.10
    • 14:02

    "Important Notice, 28 December 2009 "Following the terrorist attack on DL/NW Flight 253 on 25 December 2009 , there have been incorrect reports linking ICTS Europe to the event. "We would like to make it clear that ICTS Europe Holdings B.V. is not connected in any way to the mentioned events. ICTS Europe does not provide any security services, nor any other services, whether directly or indirectly, at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and is not connected in any way to any of the companies that provide security services at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. "Operating in many other airports across Europe and worldwide, ICTS Europe Holding B.V. continues to work tirelessly with our clients and the authorities to ensure that the new, enhanced security measures are implemented efficiently and with the utmost regard to customer service."

  • 38. 0 0
    Thanks, Ehud #13
    • Heather Czerniak
    • 10.01.10
    • 12:59

    Thanks for shedding some badly needed light on a fact that most people won't take into account. Even here in the US, Jewish-owned companies have changed hands and gone bad and everyone blames the Jews who started the company. Lehman Bros. and Goldman-Sachs were started by Jews, then sold to Gentiles and then ran into trouble. Lesson learned: If you sell a business, insist that the new owners change the name.

  • 37. 0 0
    Was the ICTS system used properly?
    • Danny
    • 10.01.10
    • 12:54

    The ICTS system was designed by Israelis, but used by the Dutch. I worked in a CNC machine shop for awhile, where most of the CNC tooling machines were built in Japan. The biggest problem is that the operator manuals were written by a Japanese person for whom English was a second language. That's one of the unfortunate realities of buying imports. You need to understand the logic behind the design and function to get the most out of it. It sounds to me like ICTS designed a security system that works well, but there will always be cracks where suspected terrorists will fall through. Other countries have the same problem with products that we North Americans export.

  • 36. 0 0
    blaming for being blamed
    • truth sayer
    • 10.01.10
    • 12:48

    Good one David, one cocks up and blames the blame on anti-semitism, what nonsense

  • 35. 0 0
    stop antisemitism!
    • David
    • 10.01.10
    • 11:25

    This is one of examples of antisemitism which should be fought. I am sure that if the company weren't Israeli, it would not be blamed for this incident. Stop antisemitism!

  • 34. 0 0
    Weren't we also responsible for 9/11?
    • Proud Israeli
    • 10.01.10
    • 11:24

    .... and the Bubonic Plague, Krakatoa.... and what about that meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs?

  • 33. 0 0
    #30, Mark, Common Article 3, Geneva
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:50

    prohibits torture. i had written quite a few posts on this matter in 2005-6. the 500,000 are on watch lists, not in custody of anyone. denying visas to those on watch lists is a rational approach. if anyone on the list is put there by mistake, they should be able to prove so.

  • 32. 0 0
    Well it wasn't the US
    • Jackie
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:37

    It was the security people at the airport in the Netherlands who should have spotted this man. Computers can only do so much and there were enough red flags to indicate he was a prospective bomber. Is it possible that the airport security people, like those at Toronto Pearson International Airport, are mostly Muslim?

  • 31. 0 0
    CJK - Rovian Talking Points
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:34

    You set forth the Rovian talking points almost as if you wrote them. The problem is that the US cannot water-board or rack everybody in the world or even the 500,000 currently on the watch list. We just don't have the capacity or the access to them all. Richard Reid got a trial and his rights were observed. Why should the underpants bomber be treated differently? He sang like a canary without torture. The US signed and helped write many of the conventions against the rack and water-board. We outlawed the gibbet and stake. Why would we want to return to them? Those tactics didn't rid the Spanish of what they wanted to be rid of. Jews survived and prospered, even on the Iberian Peninsula. And they still have some Muslims in Spain, too. Returning to the days of yore, when the rack and water board and the gibbet and stake were common doesn't bring security. Law enforcement and a respect for the fact that even people of another color or religion have rights does.

  • 30. 0 0
    i said israeli stuff is junk
    • VIPER
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:22

    and i posted in another talkback http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1140276.html no offence, but israel thinks it has some excellent equipement, in reality they are no better than russian stuff. and your iron dome will be a big flop as well, if the censors here leave this post, it will prove in the fufure to be an exact calculation, watch and learn, cause these companies bribe officials to make money, not protect as they claim.

  • 29. 0 0
    to rate the effectiveness of airport security, including israel's
    • eric
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:14

    what needs to be looked at is NOT the lack of incidents under its watch; but rather how many incidents that it's thwarted. in other words, saying that israel's profiling and back room searches are effective because of the lack of any incidents isn't valid. what IS valid is how many people who intended to do carry out an act of terror has the profiling and humiliating searches actually managed to isolate with the means on their persons?and in this instance? the lapse was most likely one of complacency. you can point fingers, lay blame, fire people, hire a new contractor, and anything else you might want to do...but human complacency will always be lurking to bite you in the ass as soon as you give it an opening. it comes with the "routine".

  • 28. 0 0
    Michael, it was from Amsterdam!
    • Kaska
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:10

    "No luggage and high price last minute ticket payed cash." For Amsterdam that's not so surprising. It's the kind of destination many people go to for one night or even a few hours I would think. No matter what you do, even were you to invest 10 times more in security, some would still slip through. It's probabilities and statistics.

  • 27. 0 0
    21 Phineas Whoppy - The 9-11 Deal
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:08

    One of the biggest failures identified in the 9-11 investigation was the use of private security firms to hire mostly undocumented workers to do airline screening. They were paid less than minimum wages in many cases and it was they who let the hijackers on with box-cutters. TSA was the reform that the Republican party came up with and it was supposed to be ALL US citizens, properly trained to do the work. No more foreigners involved, period. Back then the Republican party controlled all three branches of government. The Teabagger-in-Chief, Dick Armey of Texas was Republican Majority Leader in the House when the bill was passed. He and Bush promised it would make the US safe.

  • 26. 0 0
    it is the policies in the west
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:02

    handing out visas to people on watch lists is a recipe for disaster. treating terrorists as common criminals undermines the efforts to fight them. these are murderous islamic terrorists, and they should only have common article 3, geneva, rights. they are unlawful enemy combatants. worrying about the freedom of speech and privacy of known and identified terror inciters and their cohorts is an insane policy. such policy is presntly practiced in the united kingdom. it is for this reason that abdulmutallab's name was not passed on by the uk to the americans. terrorists must be stopped before they ever get to airports. airport security can never be perfect.

  • 25. 0 0
    # 7 Ann WOW ! Australia
    • The Teacher/Instruct
    • 10.01.10
    • 10:00

    # 7 Ann Bathurst Australia. Australia soon becoming Apartheid dangerous State. BBC World Report: In less than a week. (4 Jan. & 9.Jan 2010) "Killing of an Indian student in Melbourne.(4 Jan.2010)" "Indian man attacked & set alight in Melbourne (9.Jan 2010)" WOW ! What's happening in Melbourne ?

  • 24. 0 0
    Not the first time for ITECS!
    • Manny Goldstein
    • 10.01.10
    • 09:26

    Was ITECS not the firm involved in providing security when the 9/11 participants boarded planes in the U.S.?

  • 23. 0 0
    Right Mark # 4 _ Use Americans That Can Barely Read and Write
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 09:18

    but they sure as hell know how to shout at little old ladies. I see that across the US where flunkies that they call TSA abusing old men and women...because they can.

  • 22. 0 0
    Take your pick ....
    • Cynic #2
    • 10.01.10
    • 09:03

    Either Israeli technology is a big hoax or the firm managing security allowed the passenger through on purpose or just being stupidly complacent. On all counts, Dutch firms should be in charge of security in Holland, not foreign companies. I suppose it serves Holland right for doing so.

  • 21. 0 0
    Security failure
    • Michael Davison
    • 10.01.10
    • 08:50

    From the information in this article it seems that the airport security officer on-site were the ones that missed the critical signs: 1) No luggage 2) High-priced last-minute ticket bought for cash Any investigation should start with the security personnel who passed him through. It looks more like it wasn't the system that failed, but the personnel--and they were Dutch.

  • 20. 0 0
    Understanding the rest of the equation
    • Mea
    • 10.01.10
    • 08:25

    It has been established that there is an issue with the failure of human intelligence in ths situationand the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing. The system currently does not allow for quick technical translation of real time human "storytelling",such as this guy's father telling on hi and that resulting in an immediate system wide alert and/or no fly order. Remember that in this case, a no fly order would have been fantastic,but what if the very same people just want to mess with the system and call in names on their adversaries? They can make the system fail that way too. Each day the 19 US security depts. received libraries full of information. I suspect most of it is useless garbage, so why not implement some practical changes. Blaming Israelis for not having the eyes of G-d isn't going to solve the system failure that will fail again. The fact is the person checking in this dude on a one way with no bags should be able to call security and perform a search.

  • 19. 0 0
  • 18. 0 0
    Take it easy guys, nobody is perfect.....:)
    • Swiss (Dino)
    • 10.01.10
    • 08:13

  • 17. 0 0
    Oh...
    • Maureen Ann
    • 10.01.10
    • 08:10

    an "Israeli" security firm.

  • 16. 0 0
    Of course it was an Israeli fault
    • Fredy Ross
    • 10.01.10
    • 08:02

    I was wondering how long it would take to blame Israel.

  • 15. 0 0
    Passing the buck
    • Palestinian Brit
    • 10.01.10
    • 07:51

    One minute everyone on this talkback is praising Israel for its security and excusing the attitude of security personnel, and when it fails its someone else's fault! Typical!

  • 14. 0 0
    Fire ALL Private Contractors
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 10.01.10
    • 07:48

    The US was supposed to get rid of all private contractors for airline security back in 2001. They should have been fired then or never hired. The US government is supposed to do security with US-citizen government employees. Get rid of them and every other private contractor in any associated role. They don't do it cheaper or better than actual employees and have no accountability. Private contractors are just a way to give cronies US government funds, especially in any security capacity.

  • 13. 0 0
    ICYS was Israeli in 1982, when founded...
    • Ehud
    • 10.01.10
    • 07:32

    ...just look at its website: "In 2001, ICTS International N.V. sold its European division to Fraport AG. Within the framework of the agreement, Fraport was permitted to name the purchased division 'ICTS Europe'. We hereby emphasize that ICTS Europe is not a member of the ICTS International N.V. Group, but an entirely different entity, and that from the completion of the sale transaction, the two companies do not maintain any further business relations. Furthermore, the proprietary, leading edge technologies and security concepts developed by ICTS International N.V. remain under its sole ownership. " This would have never happened with Israeli screening personel, or operating by its rules!

  • 12. 0 0
    I Hope It Isn't An Israeli...
    • Yosemite
    • 10.01.10
    • 07:24

    This isn't funny. There is nothing else to say.

  • 11. 0 0
    The "big" Israel is an easy scapegoat
    • eaglesfanforever
    • 10.01.10
    • 07:17

    When all else fails put the blame on Israel...if this was not so sad it would be laughable. The fact that PEOPLE are the final defense against airport terrorism...the fact that people are the ones that check the passengers and the no fly lists..the fact that people are trained to watch out for obvious red flags ( and heaven knows there were many of them in this case) I would have to say that the U.S. made a blunder,as they always do ,because of ineptness and political correctness and a tragedy was in the making. Thank G-d it was averted but who knows about next time. Stop the finger pointing U.S. and get some brains and brawn in the White House and anti terrorism units.

  • 10. 0 0
    The "big" Israel is an easy scapegoat
    • eaglesfanforever
    • 10.01.10
    • 07:17

    When all else fails put the blame on Israel...if this was not so sad it would be laughable. The fact that PEOPLE are the final defense against airport terrorism...the fact that people are the ones that check the passengers and the no fly lists..the fact that people are trained to watch out for obvious red flags ( and heaven knows there were many of them in this case) I would have to say that the U.S. made a blunder,as they always do ,because of ineptness and political correctness and a tragedy was in the making. Thank G-d it was averted but who knows about next time. Stop the finger pointing U.S. and get some brains and brawn in the White House and anti terrorism units.

  • 9. 0 0
    Miriam _ That Is Exactly The Case. The New American Motto:
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 06:34

    "I am an American therefore I ain't responsible". Of course we don't know what security they had at Schiphol or their ethnicity. Could have been an inside job. How likely is it that anyone with half a brain would let a person get on an intercontinental flight without luggage, one way ticket and paid for in cash. With these three conditions I would have stopped anyone, even if their name was Smith or Jones.

  • 8. 0 0
    The 'smart' computer thesis
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 10.01.10
    • 06:31

    I have no respect for those who think computers are smarter or more aware than those who programed them. Such people annoy, irritate, and astound me. A computer is just a very capable adding machine. It cannot comprehend reality aside from how 'reality' is taught it by a programer. Nor can a computer think. It just runs programs. Any computer can only see names as reduced to numbers and thus any name which does not add up to another - if same in the world of humanity - will NEVER be recognized as the same. The firm being 'blasted' need have done nothing wrong, nor need it's algorithms be so deficient. Reducing reality to mathematics is what programers do. I think you will find few programers who confuse the use of mathematics to allow computers to reduce data with reality. There were mistakes made by both sides in the last joint fiasco. The fool was not trained well, and didn't understand how delay reduced his efforts to folly. Security forces did not deal with nomenclature

  • 7. 0 0
    America not looking for a scapegoat
    • A
    • 10.01.10
    • 06:29

    I can say that this has not been in the news here in the States. I personally don't think this one company is to blame. Don't be rash and reactionary and assume we are blaming Israel because there is speculation that this company's system wasn't working.

  • 6. 0 0
    Connect The Dots
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 10.01.10
    • 06:17

    You have a page composed of a thousand dots per centimeter and have to 'connect the dots.' One of those dots is a father in Nigeria who thinks his kid has slipped his gears. Because of many reasons his kids name is 'misspelled' even if there is no agreed method of spelling his name (see David Ben Gurion, David ben Gurion, you get my point). I do not see why ANONE should be 'Blasted' for this instance. Rather I would like to see folks develop more coherent and systematic means of communicating. Then we read: "This system is based on a computerized algorithm, and is fed passenger information from the airline company." i.e. This system lacks the ability of humans to associate two possible different spellings of a name. "According to the company's Web site, most of the large airlines in the United States use the system." - Haaretz So what? The reality is the 'system' cannot cope with any spelling of a name which is not consistent with what it has been programed to recognize.

  • 5. 0 0
    Blaming Israel
    • Edifice
    • 10.01.10
    • 05:44

    It was only a matter of time.

  • 4. 0 0
    Americans are looking for a scapegoat!
    • Miriam
    • 10.01.10
    • 05:31

    There intelligence failed and the buck needs to be passed.

  • 3. 0 0
    What, Now Israel Has To Hold Everyone's Hand Also?
    • Phinias Whoppy
    • 10.01.10
    • 05:20

    The classic conditions for a terrorist were there for all to read, even a moron: 1. Paid cash for the ticket 2.One way ticket 3. No luggage. It almost looks like an inside job to let him on the plane. I actually sympathise with the intelligence agencies. They get millions of reports every day. They can not process them fast enough. But the last line of defense is at the airport.....and here they had at least 3 very, very RED FLAGS. Have they investigated the security officers at the airport? Maybe that is where they should start.

  • 2. 0 0
    Blame Israel - who else?
    • flower
    • 10.01.10
    • 04:44

    Is there something Israel cannot be blamed for?

  • 1. 0 0
    blasted
    • Shmuelshachor
    • 10.01.10
    • 04:42

    It's the twilight zone all over.1)The own father of the idiot allerts the American Consulate.2)The brits took away his visa.3)He bought a ticket paying in cash.4)He had no lugagge.5)He had 2 pakistani visas on his passport.6)His name was not john smith...Even a Brazilian airport security officer would have smelled a rat...Thanks G-d the guy was a shlemiel