Israel Public Policy Research at RAND

RAND's first major project in Israel, in 2009, provided recommendations on the role of natural gas in Israel's energy future. In the project, RAND evaluated strategies for using natural gas and addressed some of the larger questions related to managing risk, timing of investments in infrastructure, and diversifying Israel's future energy portfolio.  Another RAND team is conducting a study of the Israel Police that will examine the force's effectiveness and its power structure.  More recently, in 2011, RAND was selected by Israel to assist a government team in formulating a long- term strategy that will advance the state of Israel toward becoming one of the leading countries in the world in quality of life for its citizens.  The Israel Public Policy Fund receives philanthropic contributions to support RAND's sustained presence in Israel.

Future Project Work

Several government offices in Israel have asked RAND to consider additional project work. Potential projects are:

• The role of the police in 21st-century Israel
• The Negev and Galilee as the engines of Israel's future growth
• A strategic development plan for the Eilat Region
• Visions of Israel's future: planning for growth and development
• Planning transportation within and between Israel's urban centers
• Ensuring a robust water supply for Israel in an uncertain future
• Environmental health planning

Israel Public Policy Fund at RAND

The RAND project on strategic decisionmaking for Israel's energy future was funded through philanthropic support from the Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation for the benefit of policymakers in Israel. The experience of working on the energy evaluation has helped RAND identify a desire within Israel for external analyses of policy options to address other major domestic issues, particularly those related to safety, development, infrastructure, and sustainability. RAND created the Israel Public Policy Fund to support future RAND research on such issues for Israeli government clients.

RAND is uniquely prepared and well qualified to help the Israeli government as the country undergoes a transformation from a pioneer state into a modern, globally oriented society. Israel has confronted many crises since its birth and managed them successfully, but they have also limited the nation's ability to conduct complex strategic analyses pertaining to transitions and long-term planning. RAND, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been offering objective analyses of complex issues for more than 60 years. RAND not only conducts policy research but also raises the level of community understanding and discourse through public dissemination of its findings.

In the last two years, RAND has increased its presence in Israel. Israel is already richly endowed with superb scholars and institutions of research and learning. RAND seeks to combine its expertise and capabilities with those already present in the country for the benefit of Israel and its people.

We believe that RAND has an outstanding opportunity to build upon this strong beginning and make other significant and lasting contributions to Israel's future economic and social well-being. We welcome and appreciate involvement and support from more philanthropists like the Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation to advance this effort. For more information, please contact Kate O'Neal, Director of Development for RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment, at (310) 393-0411, extension 6376 or by email at Kate_O'Neal@rand.org.

RAND Staff Involved in Israel Work

Steven W. Popper		Director, RAND Israel Initiative; Senior Economist; Professor of Science and Technology Policy, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Claude Berrebi		Economist; Professor of Economics, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Greg Ridgeway		Director, RAND Safety and Justice Program; Director, RAND Center on Quality Policing
Martin Wachs		Director, RAND Transportation, Space, and Technology Program
Keith W. Crane		Director, RAND Energy, Environment, and Economic Development Program
Debra S. Knopman		Vice President, RAND Corporation; Director, RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment
Jessica Saunders		Associate Behavioral & Social Scientist