11/11/2018
The United States and Israel -
Strengthening the Natural (Resource) Connection
Every Administration, both Republican and Democratic, since the founding of the modern state of Israel has viewed the US relationship with Israel to be of paramount importance. There are a number of reasons for this special bond: 1) Israel is a democratic beacon in an area of significant hostility and instability. Hence the US has particularly strong security interests. 2) Israel is a central focus spiritually to both Jewish and many Christian Americans. 3) Economically, Israel provides a significant amount of the R&D for a host of American defense and non-defense companies. This Administration has taken this special relationship to a new level. Support for Israel is frequently in the President’s speeches. Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN has make support for Israel one of her primary missions. Vice President Pence visited Israel as one of his first trips abroad and has given speeches advocating for the strengthening of relationships and US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman has been particularly direct in letting Israel know that within the Administration we stand ready to work closer than ever. In a recent speech here in Israel, Friedman added that the Trump administration was “populated” by officials “committed to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Israel.” The American people cherish their relationship with Israel.
With that as a backdrop, the imperative to learn about and address shared natural resource and environment challenges is a mandate. The opportunities to share and grow are many. There are expanded opportunities in wildland fire fighting, energy development, forest management, water and wildlife management and much more.
Here are a few examples:
· Israel is unfortunately a leader in dealing arson and terrorist fire starts. Can federal and state wildfire professionals learn from Israelis how to better prevent, detect and initial attack these fires?
· Israel has 64 drone companies and is a world leader in this technology. The US federal and state natural resource agencies are looking to greatly expand use of this technology for everything from wildfire detection, monitoring and size-up, delivering supplies to remote crews, delivering fire suppressant, monitoring powerlines, conducting prescribed burns, etc. Are there opportunities to bring these interests together?
The Negev as well as parts of Israel have significant issues with unmanaged OHV’s (Off-Highway Vehicles) tearing up the landscape – not unlike the challenges faced by the FS and BLM.
KKL (Keren Keyemet L’yisrael – “the Israeli Forest Service”) is in the midst of planning on public lands and engaging the public. FS has decades of experience in processes that provide publicly supported outcomes that benefit the land and neighboring communities. When Zevi Kahanov (then KKL representative to the US) visited he was amazed at local FS community outreach and public involvement efforts in making decisions on public lands. He thought Israel had much to learn from the FS in how to engage the public.
Israel is a leader in managing and mapping encroachments on to public lands. The US also has significant challenges. Are there opportunities to learn from each other?
There are a significant number of opportunities to learn and share with each other in the wildfire prevention, suppression and managing forest fuels arena including use of emerging technologies (tracking firefighters and mapping, etc.) and the US and state agencies’ experience with aircraft.
Israel is developing energy – both renewable and non-renewable and has all of the issues the US faces in environmental analyses and transmission permitting on public lands.
Developing new markets for wood is key to the health of America’s forests. Israeli Universities are working on use of bio-materials and energy alternatives to oil; e.g., biofuels. Are there opportunities to partner between Israeli Universities and the Forest Products lab?
KKL has a significant number of outstanding, heavily visited, recreation and heritage sites as there are with the US Forest Service and DOI. Are there opportunities to learn from each other?
Israel is a leader in healing arid landscapes and so is the US. Can Israelis and Americans work on projects together and learn how best to heal fire scarred landscapes and successfully grow trees where it is most challenging?
Strengthening ties has been a timeless commitment that has spanned all Administrations since the founding of the modern State of Israel.
