Israeli security firms doing big business in U.S.
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, November 22, 2001
TEL AVIV Ñ Israeli security firms are reporting increased interest
and business in the United States.
The increase includes a range of Israeli companies that provide security
services on airlines or protect Internet bases.
"A lot of projects that were put on hold are being jump-started," said
Cheral Druck, vice president of marketing at the Israeli firm Whale, which
offers network security and protects data bases. "People are making
decisions more quickly."
The U.S. aerospace giant Boeing signed a memorandum of understanding
with the state-owned El Al Israel Airlines to explore the prospect of
establishing a security and safety company for airlines, airports and
governments. The proposed company would provide expertise, products,
staffing, technology and training.
Earlier this month, a U.S. official told the Senate Governmental Affairs
Committee that fewer than 10 percent of checked bags at the nation's
airports are inspected for bombs. Transportation Department Inspector
General Kenneth Mead reported what he termed "alarming lapses" in airport
and airlines security.
A former El Al general manager, [Res.] Brig. Gen. Yoel Feldshuh, is
heading an Israeli company, Ganden Tourism and Aviation, which focuses on
aviation security consulting. Executives said the U.S. campaign to increase
airline and airport security has created a huge market worth hundreds of
millions of dollars.
Garden Tourism and Aviation is trying to woo an Israeli senior
intelligence official to join the company. Executives said the Far East is
another market for the company.
Industry analysts said Israel could even increase sales of
remote-sensing services. They said the Tel Aviv-based ImageSat could offer
satellite photographs of Afghanistan and other areas of the war region to
governments.
ImageSat operates the Eros-1 satellite, launched in December 2000. It
has sold about a dozen pictures of the Afghanistan military campaign to such
television companies as CNN and BBC. Each photo costs between $5,000 and
$10,000.
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