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Looking to Israel for expertise, 13 state-level homeland security officials recently traveled to the Jewish state to learn how it keeps its citizens safe.
The trip was sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), the charitable organization affiliated with AIPAC. The tour was the third of its kind for AIEF, which has co-sponsored trips in the past with the National Sheriffs’ Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Such missions represent just one component of AIPAC’s homeland security initiative, which aims to ensure that the United States benefits from Israel’s vast expertise in fighting terrorism.
Since the 9/11 attacks, state and local governments have turned to Israel for advice on how to better protect their own communities. AIEF has sought to build those relationships by fostering ties between homeland security professionals and their Israeli counterparts.
The trip participants enjoyed high-level briefings with Israeli national security experts. Public Security Minister Avi Dichter was the group’s guide in Sderot, where he explained what Israel is doing to protect its citizens from rocket attacks.
Later on, the American homeland security officials traveled to Ben-Gurion International Airport and learned why Israel has the reputation for having the world’s best airport security. The delegation was briefed on how Israeli security personnel screen passengers using a combination of technology and human intelligence.
This effort has also reached Capitol Hill, where AIPAC has worked with lawmakers to facilitate close U.S.-Israel cooperation. Recently, Congress created an office for homeland security research, where the United States and its closest allies, including Israel, discuss security strategies.
The cooperative spirit struck a cord on the AIEF mission. As one participant remarked: “Sharing best practices is what our trip is all about.”
