2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

WHY ISRAEL MATTERS
What Congress Has Done to Support Israeli
Humanitarian Efforts
Supported Regional Cooperation on Health and Environmental Issues. Created in 1979 in
the wake of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, the Middle East Regional
Cooperation Program (MERC) has sought to promote scientific cooperation between
Arab and Israeli researchers, students and communities. Previous projects involving
Israel, the Palestinians, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia have focused on issues
such as water, health, agriculture and the environment. Funded by the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) since its inception at an annual level of
$5 million to $7 million, the MERC Program unites Israel’s technological prowess with
its quest for peace with its Arab neighbors.
Backed U.S.-Israeli Programs in Developing Countries. Founded in 1988, the
Cooperative Development Program (CDP) funds the collaborative research of
American and Israeli scientists working with their counterparts in developing
countries throughout the world in order to improve their conditions. Projects take
place in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe, as well as in some
of Israel’s neighboring countries. Activities include training in arid lands agriculture,
livestock, exotic crops and irrigation. Both America and Israel contribute funding to
the CDP.
Supported Joint Technological Development. Congress supported the creation of the
U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Foundation (BARD)
in 1977 by appropriating $40 million for an initial endowment, fully matched by
Israel. The endowment was augmented in 1984 with a contribution of $15 million,
again matched by Israel, but has not been replenished since. This severely restricts
BARD’s ability to continue funding cutting-edge research and development into
agricultural technologies that assist programs in arid land development, water
treatment, food safety and other vital areas.
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