Since the September 11th attacks, the subject of homeland security has been headline news around the world, and not least, of course, in Israel. One outcome of this level of concern was the establishment of the new Department of Homeland Security in the US and a second has been the consideration now being given to setting up a bilateral US-Israel fund to finance scientific and technological research and development in the field of counter-terrorism. The fund, administered under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security in the US and the Ministry of Public Security in Israel, would operate in a number of fields, among them the two countries’ state of readiness for a range of emergency situations, bomb disposal techniques, physical security, forensic science, and counter-terrorism.

The Ministry of Public Security and the American National Institute of Justice have an existing cooperation agreement which was signed in 1999 and was extended in 2003 for a period of five years. Until last year the cooperation agreement was based mainly on information exchange, yet over the past year a significant change in the level, extent and quality of cooperation between the two offices occurred which is reflected in set work procedures and meetings, and most importantly, jointly managed and financed projects.

In 2004 a work team consisting senior representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, the Israel Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with senior officials of the American Department of Homeland Security and discussed issues such as suicide bombers, transportation security and other subjects. The two parties shared vital information regarding long distance suicide bomber detection and methods of security public busses.

Throughout 2005 discussions were held between the Ministry of Public Security, lead by its then Director General, Rani Falk, and the American Department of Homeland Security in order to lead towards a signed agreement of cooperation and joint work teams.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the two offices was signed on December 24, 2006 following the Israeli Government's approval of Minister Dicter's appointment as the head of the cooperation with the United States of America in the field of homeland security.

In February 2007, a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding in the field of homeland security was signed between the Minister Dicter, on behalf of the State of Israel, and Secretary Chertoff, on behalf of the United States of America.