As I understand it at one stage it was seriously considered but they failed to make agreement with the Aust. GVT.
The staff are specially trained for this type of security work. Who they work for is probably academic but the airline is now a private company.
Quote:
January 2005
Airline control is transferred to private ownership – Following the exercise of additional options, on December 23, 2004 the holdings of Knafaim-Arkia Holdings Ltd. rose to 40% of the shares issued by the airline, and on January 6, 2005, following a decision taken at a meeting of stockholders convened at Knafaim's request, most of the members of the Board of Directors were replaced. As a result, control of the airline was transferred to Knafaim.
El Al spends $100 million a year to conform with the airline security measures required by Israel's Shin Bet security service
Flight security measures
Undercover agents (sometimes referred to as sky marshals) carrying concealed firearms sit amongst the passengers on every international El Al flight.[47] Most El Al pilots are former Israeli Air Force fighter pilots, and all El Al flight crew members are trained in hand-to-hand combat. Most El Al employees, male and female, have served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as Israeli citizens are drafted at the age of 18.[48]
Wiki entry on security.
The cockpits in all El Al aircraft have double doors to prevent entry by unauthorized persons. A code is required to access the doors, and the second door will only be opened after the first has closed and the person has been identified by the Captain or First Officer.[48] Furthermore, there are reinforced steel floors separating the passenger cabin from the baggage hold.[49] This is intended to strengthen the plane in case of an explosion.
Following an attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner in 2002,[50] all aircraft in the fleet have been equipped with an infrared countermeasures system called 'Flight Guard', developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries to defend them against anti-aircraft missiles.[51][52] [53] Although comparable systems such as CAMPS are now available for civilian aircraft, there is no information to date about any other airlines deploying such a system. Switzerland and other European countries have expressed concern that flares dropped by the Israeli system could cause fires in the vicinity of an airport.[54] However none of the higher risk countries that the El Al aircraft fly to have raised any concerns.
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The Australian market may be small which now may make it not viable but more direct flights could be helpful to people wanting to travel there.
The grilling is worth it to avoid the consequences of lax security.