In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the long-standing American-Israeli strategic alliance has assumed new practical aspects, especially in the area of homeland security.

Elements of the growing cooperation between the United States and Israel include the following: formal written agreements, law enforcement exchange programs created to enhance cooperation between American and Israeli top-level law enforcement personnel, visits to Israel by federal and local public officials aiming to acquaint themselves with Israel’s homeland security measures developed to protect citizens against suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks, and technical cooperation between the two countries. This article briefly documents some of these developments.

The Goals and Terms for Security Collaboration Between the United States and Israel

The goals and terms for security collaboration between the two nations are articulated in a joint memorandum signed by Israel’s Minister of Public Security and the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, in Washington, D.C., on February 7, 2007. The document specifies “that there exists a vital need to promote operational, scientific and technological cooperation between the parties in the field of homeland security” (Stoil, 2007). Among other things, the United States and Israel agreed to collaborate in research and development concerning explosives detection, share information regarding terrorism and certain criminal activities, conduct joint training and exchange experts in the area of homeland security, including emergency and disaster preparations. To implement the agreement, the two countries agreed to create a Homeland Security Steering Committee and establish bureaus in Washington and Tel-Aviv to oversee the agreed-upon collaboration.

Before this agreement, homeland security cooperation between the United States and Israel was limited to ad hoc relationships between law enforcement agencies of the two countries. The new U.S.-Israel homeland security agreement formalizes this cooperation.

Law Enforcement Exchanges and other Visitations

During the past five years, dozens of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents as well as scores of police chiefs, sheriffs, explosive experts, fire chiefs, and other first responders have attended seminars on terrorism in Israel. American law enforcement personnel have been traveling to Israel under the auspices of several institutions, including the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the American-Israel Education Foundation (AIEF). Some trips have been co-sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Sheriffs’ Association.

While in Israel, the American guests are hosted by the Israel National Police (INP) with participation of Israel’s domestic security agency (Shin Bet), and the Ministry of Internal Security. Based on the vast and tragic experience Israel has had with terrorism and suicide bombings, week-long seminars and field experiences are offered on such topics as the psychology of suicide bombers, techniques to prevent and identify potential suicide bombers, the sophistication of domestic and international terrorists motivated to commit Jihad, the history of Islamic fundamentalism, and so forth. The seminars on suicide bombings include lectures by bomb disposal experts, and discussions of the organizations involved in terrorism and those who plan, recruit and provide the technical training necessary to carry out attacks. Case studies of suicide bombers captured in Israel are presented so that the Americans can develop a better understanding of those who may be most vulnerable for recruitment as suicide bombers. Much emphasis is placed on the so-called intelligence cycle and the utter importance of reliable intelligence and the sharing of information in preventing terrorism. Israeli security experts agree that the most effective means of combating terrorism is the veracity of the intelligence as well as having people who know how to use the information. Briefings and discussions on intelligence focus on techniques used in Israel to incorporate innovative technology and informants in intelligence gathering and analysis aimed at disrupting supply lines, discovering hiding places and intercepting terrorists before they get to their planned destination. The impact of the information provided was succinctly summarized by one attendee (Capitol Police Commander, Larry Thompson) as follows: “We learned the importance of intelligence gathering…and how police officers on the street have to be constantly aware of their environment…I was totally blown away” (Bouchard, 2004).

In addition to techniques for preventing suicide attacks, lessons also focus on the immediate reaction to an attack and the required response. American law enforcement officers have voiced their surprise at the speed and efficiency of the Israeli police response that includes assistance rendered to victims, evacuation to hospitals, and the clearing of the crime scene. To quote visiting Knoxville’s Chief of Police (Sterling P. Owen IV), “They (Israelis) do not want their lives and businesses to be disrupted. Their philosophy is we’re going to reopen just as though it never happened” (Horwitz, 2005).

Field experiences provided by the Israeli hosts include night “ride alongs” with Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem police officers; visits to suicide bombing sites such as Tel-Aviv’s Dolphinarium, where a suicide bomber killed 21 Israelis at a nearby discotheque; and visits to shopping malls, sports arenas and places of entertainment “hardened” to prevent entry to suicide bombers. Because security at these sites is provided by the private sector in Israel, the learning experience also includes addressing the relationship between the police and the private security industry. Discussions with Israeli police commanders also cover hostage situations and the mobilization of ordinary citizens for security purposes.

JINSA—a Washington-based think tank focusing on defense and national security issues—is, by far, the most active organization promoting law enforcement visits to Israel. JINSA’s Law Enforcement Exchange Program, aimed at establishing cooperation between American and Israeli law enforcement personnel in the area of counterterrorism, was initiated in 2002. This program also sponsors visits of Israeli counterterrorism experts to the United States. Since 2002, JINSA has organized at least six conferences in which senior Israeli experts on terrorism have shared their experiences with their American colleagues. Several thousand American police officers in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, and Minnesota have already participated in these conferences, attending sessions such as: “Identifying and Understanding the Enemy,” “The Intelligence Process: an Overview,” “Intelligence Sharing and Source Development,” The Relationship Between Law Enforcement and Private Security,” “Suicide Bombings: Methodology and Responses,” “The Mind of the Suicide Bomber,” and “Biological Threats and Responses.” One such conference, held at Princeton University in June 2004, followed a visit to Israel by the New Jersey State Police Superintendent (Richard Fuentes), who decided upon his return to invite Israelis to share their experiences with New Jersey’s top law enforcement officials and was quoted saying, “The Israelis helped us change the way we do business regarding homeland security in New Jersey” (Silverstein, 2004). More than 400 law enforcement officers as well as law enforcement officials attended this conference from New York and Pennsylvania and the local branches of the FBI, the Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Yet another conference, designed to promote cooperation with the United States on homeland security, was held in Jerusalem in early 2006. Sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Internal Security, the four-day “International Homeland Security Conference 2006” attracted more than 120 American and Canadian participants.

The visitations and conferences already mentioned have been complemented by high-level law enforcement exchanges. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales visited Israel in June 2006, delivered a talk at Tel-Aviv University on “Global Law Enforcement in post-9/11 World,” and seized the occasion to “single out U.S.-Israel collaboration in combating terrorism” (Jerusalem Post, 2006). And, shortly after Gonzales’ visit, Avi Dichter, Israel’s Internal Security Minister and former head of Shin Bet, reciprocated by visiting the United States. Addressing the annual meeting of the IACP in Boston, Dichter made the point, based on the Israeli experience, that one cannot separate the fight against terrorists from fighting criminals, a phenomenon he referred to as “fighting crimiterrorists” (Stoil, 2006).

American government leaders including state governors, legislators, and other local officials concerned about homeland security have been traveling to Israel to gain first-hand knowledge and foster potential cooperation. For example, Maryland Governor Robert Erlich, after visiting Israel in 2003, created the Maryland/Israel Partnership, which consequently implemented Israeli security methods at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and the port of Baltimore. More recently, in May 2006, a delegation of ten Georgia state legislators visited Israel, and a mission of twelve business and government leaders from Illinois visited in June 2006. The Illinois mission was preceded by a visit by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley to Israel in early May 2006. In Israel, Daley showed interest in counterterrorism and lessons that could be important for Chicago and, consequently, was briefed by officials from the INP and other national security officials on Israel’s response to terrorism. Daley visited Jerusalem’s Old City, where, in addition to seeing the holy places, he became acquainted with the extensive surveillance system, consisting of hundreds of cameras, installed to protect the city from potential terrorist attacks (surveillance cameras in Chicago being one of the mayor’s important projects). Among other sites of interest to the mayor was the state-of-the-art security system at Ben-Gurion International Airport’s new terminal, where modern architecture has been blended with the most advanced security-related technology. Daley, it was reported, “took a lot of notes” (Levine, 2006). Like other security-minded official visitors, the mayor was also briefed about Behavior Pattern Recognition—the method airport security officers in Israel deploy when questioning passengers. (Behavior Pattern Recognition, developed by the former director of security at Ben-Gurion International Airport, is considered distinct from profiling and has been adopted at five U.S. airports: Boston, Indianapolis, Houston, San Francisco, and Miami.) More recently, a delegation of U.S. airport directors also visited Israel to study the airport’s security system. Noting that because of traffic volume and cultural differences it may be difficult to emulate some of the Israeli airport security methods, Oakland Airport Authority’s chief believes, “It’s important to establish a personal relationship…so that when we have questions we can call and ask” (Freeman, 2007).

Technological Cooperation

With few natural resources at its disposal, Israel has relied on its brainpower and its entrepreneurial spirit to turn the country “into a technology juggernaut,” ranking only behind the United States in companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (Rhodas, 2007). Dozens of high-tech Israeli companies, started in recent years, specialize in security-related equipment, encryption software, communications gear, and high-end Internet hardware. Among other innovations, Israeli companies invented instant messaging and Internet phoning.

Israeli-developed high-tech innovations and cutting-edge security systems have attracted the attention of U.S. law enforcement officials and legislators in Washington. Samples of Israeli technologies already adopted in the U.S. include the following:

• Digital recording technology that locate and retrieve recordings for investigations and evidence;

• Free-space optic laser links that improve communications between agencies;

• A security system (Shavit gateway) that collects biometric and physical data from persons entering a secure area;

• A briefcase-size device (safeshoe) that can detect metal objects and explosives in shoes and can be used for screening at airports;

• A gun attachment (corner shot) that enables the shooter to aim a bullet around a corner;

• A kit for speedily detecting bacteria without having to wait for organisms to grow in culture (an important innovation in case of a bio attack).

Realizing the importance of innovative technology in homeland security, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed the Promoting Anti-Terrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act in 2007. The act establishes an office of international cooperation within the Department of Homeland Security to support joint security-related research and development projects between the United States and key allies such as Israel.

Conclusion

The two recent failed car bombings in London, the fiery jeep attack on Glasgow’s Airport, and foiled terrorist attacks in the United States, should serve as wakeup calls regarding the nature of future terrorist attacks in America. Although most terrorism experts continue to believe that Al Qaeda is still plotting a mega-attack in the United States, it also is becoming quite clear that attacks on a much smaller scale, in which suicide bombers and other individuals motivated by Jihad strike at so-called soft targets, are inevitable. Under this scenario, American law enforcement officers and other first responders on the local level will be even more exposed to the dangers of terrorism than before, and lessons learned from the Israeli experience could become even more vital for U.S. homeland security.

Gad J. Bensinger, Ph.D., is Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Criminal Justice at Loyola University of Chicago.

Notes

Bouchard, Sarah. (2004). Capitol police officer ‘blown away’ by Israel trip. The Hill, April, 7.

Freeman, Joshua. (2007). US eager to adopt Israeli security. Jerusalem Post (online edition), May 10.

Horwitz, Sari. (2005). Israeli experts teach police on terrorism: Training programs prompt policy shifts. Washington Post, June 12.

Jerusalem Post (online edition). (2006). U.S. attorney general praises Israel cooperation. June 27, 2006.

Levine, Jay. (2006). Mayor Daley studies Israeli security. Retrieved from http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_124222134.html on June 26, 2006.

Rhodas, Christopher. (2007). How an elite military school feeds Israel’s tech industry. Wall Street Journal, June 6.

Silverstein, Marilyn. (2004). Israelis brief NJ’s top cops on counterterrorism. New Jersey Jewish News, July 9.

Stoil, Rebecca. (2007). Israel, U.S. sign homeland security pact. Jerusalem Post (online edition), February 7.

Stoil, Rebecca. (2006). Dichter’s tour fosters bonds with U.S. marshals. Jerusalem Post (online edition), October 20.