Originally Posted by Mats

supatight80,

Don't sweat it too much. The security lines only open three hours prior to departure, so there is no point in arriving sooner than that.

Just go to the Turkish Airlines check-in area. I'm guessing that you will be interviewed by two different staff. Then your checked baggage will go through a CT scanner.

You will then be asked to go to an area where they will likely hand-check your carry-on baggage, perhaps your checked baggage.

The rest is easy: you'll pass through a very easy metal detector and hand luggage x-ray, brief passport control, and that's it.

There is a remote chance that you'll be selected for screening of your clothing, but this is rare, and it would still be conducted quickly and--reportedly--with dignity. I've never been through anything like this myself, but others have said that they are unerringly polite.

Many Southeast Asians visit Israel, it is a gay-friendly destination, and there are frequent flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul. The security staff are accustomed to people from Southeast Asia, they would not be interested in your sexual orientation, and Turkish Airlines has many flights a day from Tel Aviv.

I hope that you have a very pleasant trip to Israel, and that your experience with security at Ben Gurion Airport is not too burdensome. Remember, only a small handful of passengers are subjected to "high level" scrutiny.

Tisa naima
("Have a pleasant flight.")