WASHINGTON (JTA) — The United States and Israel will enhance civil aviation security cooperation.
"The real-time exchange of information with our international partners is critical to our efforts to enhance overall global aviation security," Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary, said in a joint statement Tuesday with her Israeli counterpart, Yisrael Katz. "This agreement will allow the United States and Israel to better coordinate on and respond to potential aviation security incidents to strengthen our mutual safety."
The memorandum of understanding establishes "designated points of contact for each agency; protocols for notification in the event of an incident; mechanisms to enhance communication; and regular exercises," the statement said.
The statement also noted other existing agreements, including the recent stationing of U.S. Homeland Security officials in Israel and a 2007 agreement which covered "aviation security, emergency planning and response, and homeland security-related research and protocols."
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