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13th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Conference DHS-FEMA Emergency Management InstituteEmmitsburg, Maryland June 7-10, 2010

Emergency Management in Israel: Context & CharacteristicsSession: Comparative Emergency Management Book Project

Jack L. Rozdilsky, Ph.D. Western Illinois University

1Presentation OutlineWhy study international emergency management?

The context of Israel The Jewish nation-state

Emergency management in Israel

Five conclusions for Israel in relation to comparative emergency management

Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics2Why study international emergency management?Section A 3Why Study International Examples of Emergency Management?Joint operations may be necessary as disasters do not recognize international borders

Most literature on disasters comes from the U.S., A lack of studies from outside North America

Lessons from industrialized and democratic nations may not always be applicable to other countries

Emergency Management in Israel: Context and CharacteristicsSlide Source: Dr. David McEntire. Comparative Emergency Management Book Project, Chapter One The Importance of Comparison for Emergency Management.4Why Study International Examples of Emergency Management?Learning from the successes and failures of others is an excellent way to acquire knowledge pertinent to disasters

A cross-national perspective may improve emergency management research

Comparative emergency management studies will also increase professionalism among practitioners

Emergency Management in Israel: Context and CharacteristicsSlide Source: Dr. David McEntire. Comparative Emergency Management Book Project, Chapter One The Importance of Comparison for Emergency Management.5The context of ISRAEL: The Jewish Nation-stateSection B 6The Jewish NationNation A term used in its social context implying common traits of a people as exhibited through identity, culture, religion, etc.

The roots of the Jewish nation can be traced back approximately 4,000 years to the 17th Century B.C.E.

Millennia of Jewish cultural developments, triumphs, and struggles have taken place in the geographic region situated between the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf

Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics7The Jewish StateState Refers to political traits of an entity such as sovereign borders, governance, etc. The Jewish state of Israel came into existence in 1948 following the dissolution and partition of mandated territory

The state is based on the interconnected history of the Jewish nation

One would be naive not to acknowledge the intermingling of Jewish culture, values of Judaism, and the affairs of state in Israel

Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics8Map of the Modern Jewish Nation-State of IsraelSlide Source: http://d-maps.com/m/israel/israel11.gif

IsraelEgyptJordanGaza StripWest BankGolan HeightsSyriaLebanonMediterranean SeaDead SeaRed SeaLake Tiberius9The Modern Nation State of Israel The population of Israel is 7.2 million persons, with 41% of the entire worlds Jewish population

In 2008, Israel celebrated its 60th anniversary

The state has successfully defended itself in:At least six major warsTwo Palestinian uprisingsNumerous smaller conflictsAbsorbing thousands of terrorist attacksEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics10The Modern Nation State of Israel Narrow-View: Israel is constantly in the news as a volatile flashpoint and world trouble spot

Wider-View: What is not reported with such frequency is the extensive list of accomplishments in nation-building

A unique combination of the ethos combining aspects of Judaism, Zionism, and the advancement of the state drives a mission oriented society where there are not necessarily clear boundaries between beliefs and non-secular aspects of public managementEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics11Linking Israels Past to the Present - MasadaThis image depicts the Masada fortress. The 73 C.E. events at Masada and the Jewish Zealots defiance of the Roman forces remains an important symbolic reminder of Jewish survival to this day. Today, one of the uses of Masada is as a site for Israeli Defense Force ceremonies where recruits make an oath that, Masada shall not fall again.

Slide Source: Photo by Dr. Jack Rozdilsky12Emergency Management in Israel Section C 13A Strife Induced System Throughout Israels post-1948 history, the state has been involved in major wars, minor skirmishes, and the target of numerous terrorist campaigns

The concept of civil defense is not an abstract notion to the Israelis, but a practical reality as most if not all citizens have had direct experience related to defense of the homeland

After every conflict, post-event analysis has resulted in adaptation to the states military posture and associated civilian defense strategies

Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics14Defense of the Rear-AreaGeographically, there is little separation between the battles front and rear areas for Israel

The threat of an attack on the rear areas is more actual for Israel as compared to other countries

The blending of the front and rear battle areas was evident in 1948 in the words of David Ben-Gurion as he said on the day that Israel was established:

The entire people are the army, and the entire land is the frontEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics15Civilian Shelter, Negev Region, IsraelThis image depicts a civilian shelter in the Negev Region, Israel. This structure is an example of Israeli civil defense. Such shelters can be used for protection from mortar, rocket, or missile fire. Slide Source: Photo by Dr. Jack Rozdilsky

16Kibbutz Defensive Perimeter, Negev Region, IsraelThis image depicts fences and barbed wire barriers which serve as a defensive perimeter for a Kibbutz in the Negev Region, Israel. Approximately 40 years ago, one of the many purposes of Kibbutz settlements located near hostile borders was to act as defensive settlements. Today, defensive features remain intact and serve as a reminder of a turbulent past where there was little separation between battle front and battle rear areas. Slide Source: Photo by Dr. Jack Rozdilsky

17Structure of National Emergency Management in Israel Home Front Command Created in 1992 as a fourth command in the Israeli Defense Forces under the Ministry of Defense

National Emergency Authority Created in 2007, also known as RACHEL Coordinating emergency management activities of the government and military, local authorities, and the civilian sectorRACHEL is under the Ministry of DefenseEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics18Structure of National Emergency Management in Israel National Emergency Economy Board

MELACH A part of RACHEL Responsibilities include evacuations, assistance, and casualty management

PESACH Responsibilities include allocation of gas, supply of electricity, the supply of food and water, the provisions of communication services, and the operation of infrastructureEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics19Structure of National Emergency Management in Israel Emergency Management in Israel: Context and CharacteristicsThe Police A national agency under the Ministry of Public Security

The Fire and Rescue ServicesA national agency under the Ministry of the Interior

The Health Sector Numerous hospitals and clinics under the Ministry of Health and the Magen David Adom Emergency Ambulance Service

The Civil SectorNumerous local units of government including municipalities, regional, and local councils

The Environmental SectorThe unit for monitoring hazardous material under the Ministry of Environmental Protection

20Five Conclusions for Israel in Relation to Comparative Emergency management Section D 21#1 Intangible Assets Based on the Socio-Cultural FabricHistory of trials and tribulations of the Jewish nation

The stakes are high survival

Unique social-cultural fabric of Israel translates into purpose driven direct actions

Can other places tap into their own socio-cultural fabric as a valuable intangible asset to support emergency management? Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics22#2 Existential Threats Hostile nations and non-state actors continue to call for the end of Israels existence

Existential threats can have benefits to those states that manage to survive

Can others learn from Israel about how existential threats can be used to overcome apathy to preparedness and create a unified national purpose?Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics23#3 Single-Hazard Approach to Emergency Mgmt. Israel has an approach to emergency management based on dealing with the social hazards of warfare and terrorism

Natural and technological hazards are dealt with by entities that were established to deal with social hazards

Given Israels history, this approach is understandable

Can a predominantly single-hazard approach to emergency management be applied successfully in other nations? Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics24#4 Military-Centric Approach to Emergency Mgmt. Israeli Defense Forces Home Front Command plays a primary role in emergency management

The National Emergency Coordination Authority RACHEL is housed in the Ministry of Defense

Israel is an example of a military-centric approach to emergency management

For comparative purposes, Israel is an example of the strengths and weaknesses of applying a military-centric model of emergency managementEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics25#5 Application of Defense of the RearUnfortunately for Israel, in many cases there has been little separation between the battles front and the battles rear

If Israeli citizens are known for such resiliency that attacks on cities would have little long-term damaging impacts, adversaries might not be so keen to launch attacks having few results and then face Israeli military reprisals

For comparative purposes, what if defending the rear areas applied to defending against needless loss of life, injuries, and economics setbacks to the nation from all hazards?Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics26Closing Statements It is difficult to isolate any aspect of Israeli society from the larger meta-narrative of the Jewish nation-state

There are dilemmas inherent in making comparisons with Israel, however the author suggests sophisticated comparisons can be made based on a contextual understanding of the Jewish nation-state

Israel represents a single-hazard based, military-centric model of emergency management practice. For other nations considering similar management schemes, Israel may serve as a useful case to further exploreEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics27End of PresentationClosing DocumentationSection D 28Closing DocumentationThis presentation is based directly on the work produced for the FEMA Comparative Emergency Management Book Project available at: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/CompEmMgmtBookProject.asp

Source Material: Rozdilsky, Jack L. (2009). Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics. in McEntire, David. (ed.) (nd) Comparative Emergency Management: Understanding Disaster Policies, Organizations, and Initiatives from Around the World. A project of DHS-FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Program. Accessed May 13, 2010. Available: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/CompEmMgmtBookProject.asp

This presentation is prepared with regard to compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for Emergency Management Institute curriculum materials Emergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics29Contact InformationJack L. Rozdilsky, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Emergency Management Program Department of Health Sciences

Western Illinois University Emergency Management Program Stipes Hall 402N 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455-1390 Tel. 309-298-1621 Fax. 309-298-2076

Email: JL-Rozdilsky@wiu.eduEmergency Management in Israel: Context and Characteristics30