U.S. energy specialists are in Israel to discuss the nation’s top breakthroughs in the field of renewable, alternative energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The visit, organized by the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange, is intended to foster the establishment of new strategic partnerships, professional cooperation and information-sharing between American energy specialists and their Israeli counterparts.
Among the U.S. delegation is 2007 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient Professor Marilyn Brown, noted for her work on the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, in addition to numerous other top energy experts.
Briefings for the group will include meetings with the head of the prime minister’s Economic Council, the executive director of the BIRD (Israel-U.S. Binational & Industrial Research and Development) Foundation, and senior officials in the National Infrastructures Ministry.
“While the drive to develop alternative energy solutions gains momentum in the United States, Israel, which has to import all its oil from abroad, has for many years worked on alternative and efficient energy solutions which both benefit the environment, and serve to reduce its reliance on overseas oil,” noted Sam Witkin, Project Interchange’s executive director.
The delegation will also receive expert briefings on the complex issues facing Israel, such as the peace process, Palestinian Authority politics and society, Israel’s global and regional relationships and the country's humanitarian efforts around the world.