What really pisses me off about the airport security is that the staff probably don't know what they are looking for - rather like the scene in airplane where the old lady walks through the metal detector and gets arrested and the guy with the Ak47 walks through. I think the policy of searching everybody means that as 99.99999% of passengers are innocent they probably not even expecting a suspicious person. If you have ever experienced Israeli security, then you'll realise what true security is. The irony is however, that the staff are highly trained specialists and know what they are looking for, and yet even in a country where you are checked before going into buildings everywhere, it really doesn't bother you because the people are generally polite and there have been genuine attempts of suicide bombers being stopped by them. I've flown El Al for years and even before all this water bottle crap they never bothered to do it, even in Israel! The had faith in their staff who would wander around the airports and might come and strike up a conversation with you, but they knew what they were doing. Here, I was asked by a security guard what the piece of metal was on my neck, I told him it was a star of david to which he replied you should take it off next time you come through. It's all gone mad really, when I get through everytime with a zippo lighter in my bag yet my water is a risk!