O’seas cos, gov’ts to inspect Israeli anti-terror methods

Chameleon Associates and Shafran Security Consulting and Management organized the tour.

Dozens of representatives of companies and government agencies from ten countries, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT), and Oracle (Nasdaq:ORCL), will arrive in Israel on February 18 for a behind-the-scenes tour of its struggle against terrorism. During the tour, the visitors will meet key security agencies and companies in Israel’s politics and economy.

Chameleon Associates LLC, a US firm controlled by Israelis Amotz Brandes and Muky Cohen; Shafran Ltd. Security Consulting and Management, founded by general manager Rafael Malka and directors Peleg Raday and Reuven Hasak; the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute; and the Israeli commercial attaché in Los Angeles organized the tour.

A unique feature of the tour’s participants is the large number of countries they represent: the US, Canada, the Bahamas, Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, and South Africa.

Cameleon Associates says participating agencies and companies include a senior FBI anti-terrorist monitoring unit official, Microsoft information and physical security officer for the Middle East and Africa, Oracle, the Singapore Internal Security Department (the equivalent of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA, formerly known as the General Security Services or GSS)), the vice president of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit System, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Australian Parliament, management consultants Booze Allen Hamilton, the CEO of Mall of America (the world’s largest mall, located in Bloomington, Minnesota), the force commander of the Bloomington Police, and the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee (ACPO-TAM).

, “The idea is to bring security decision-makers to Israel, where they will be exposed to expert security activities at the source,” Israel Consul Economic Affairs in Los Angeles Shai Aizin told “Globes”. “A visit to security centers improves the likelihood that the participations will be willing to buy, or invest in, relevant Israeli products or companies.”

In contrast to the usual practice, in which Israeli companies unveil their products and services at international exhibitions in the US, Europe or Asia, this time the target audience is coming to Israel; bringing Mohammad to the mountain, as it were. Eight Israeli homeland security companies will make presentations to the delegation: Verint Systems (Nasdaq:VRNT) (audio applications); NICE-Systems (Nasdaq: NICE; TASE:NICE) (video applications); Magal Security Systems (Nasdaq:MAGS; TASE:MAGS) (perimeter defense systems); Orad Hi-Tec Systems (AIM; XETRA:OHT) (technology integration); Rabintex Industries (TASE:RABN) (body armor and other protective gear); Ido 2000 (techniques for x-raying the shoes of passengers in public transit systems); and Team 3 Cleaning & General Services 1992 (armor and protective security solutions).

Chameleon Associates manager Amotz Brandes told “Globes”, “Israeli experience in various security areas is considered top of the line. We had a lot of requests to participate in the tour, even from some Arab countries. We were forced to turn the Arab applicants away, because of a lack of room.”

The participants will learn about security systems at the Knesset, Supreme Court, the Temple Mount, Mabat 2000 (the electronic surveillance system in the Old City of Jerusalem), the Azrieli Center, Bank Hapoalim headquarters, the Ashdod Port (incoming and outgoing cargo inspection systems), Ben Gurion International Airport, the New Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, and communication and infrastructure solutions company Med-1.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - undefined - on January 22, 2006