Traveler discovers anti-Israel note in suitcase after Seattle-Tel Aviv flight
A woman returning from Seattle to Tel Aviv opened her checked bag and found a handwritten “F*** Israel” message, prompting fear and a report to authorities.
While unpacking after a Seattle-Los Angeles-Tel Aviv itinerary, 48-year-old Noa Sabar Dvoskin found a handwritten note in her checked luggage that read “F*** Israel” in all caps. The discovery, made alongside her three children aged 9 to 16, left her feeling uneasy and disgusted. Dvoskin traveled on Alaska Airlines before connecting to an El Al flight, and the airline, which codeshares with El Al, has not responded to inquiries.
She reported the incident to Alaska Airlines, Los Angeles International Airport, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. embassy in Israel. The episode follows a prior incident where El Al ground staff removed “Free Palestine” stickers from equipment, leading to a delayed flight and the dismissal of a contractor employee. The StopAntisemitism NGO warned that such acts could precede more dangerous threats.
Why it matters
It highlights security and hate-motivated threats targeting airline passengers and raises concerns for airline safety protocols.
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