Abstract
The beginning of 2011 will be remembered as a period of significant political relations’ warming between the state of Israel and Europe. One of the symbols of this trend was the Cooperation Agreement that was signed between ESA and the Israeli Space Agency (ISA) on 30 January 2011. This outcome was the fortunate culmination of earlier contacts and discussions started in 2007, which the Israeli space community hopes may eventually “open the door” to full ESA membership. It is expected that cooperation between Europe and Israel on agreed missions could benefit both parties by complementing their capabilities, satisfying their needs, sharing their development costs, and mutually improving their technological know-how and industrial efficiency. Since the signing of the agreement, ESA experts and their Israeli counterparts have been jointly identifying areas of mutual interest, notably in the field of space science and exploration, followed by reciprocal introductory meetings and a comprehensive survey of the Israeli space industry and technology basis, currently conducted by ESA.
This article reflects the personal perspective of the author and does not represent any official policy of the State of Israel nor the Israeli Space Sector.
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Notes
- 1.
“Israel signs Cooperation Agreement.” 31 Jan. 2011. ESA 19 Nov. 2011 http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMKE3Y1LJG_index_0.html.
- 2.
In the 1960s Israel was invited to join ESRO and ELDO as a full member. Despite the interest and support of the Israeli scientific community, the Israeli government declined the offer.
See further Paikowsky, Deganit. “From the Shavit-2 to Ofeq-1- A History of the Israeli Space Effort.” Quest (2011 forthcoming).
- 3.
Rear Admiral Ophir Shoham. Current head of the Defence Directorate for Research and Development (DDR&D) in the Israeli Ministry of Defence (IMOD), described the State of Israel at a conference held in March 2004 at Tel Aviv University. Shoham, O. “Economics and Defence.” Tel Aviv.
- 4.
The Shavit-2 sounding rocket was launched on July 5, 1961. The launch took place as part of a “small-scale space race between Israel and Egypt and was used to show Israel’s superiority over Egypt and to boost Israeli morale.” Burleson, D. Space Programs Outside the United States. North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company Inc. 2005: 153.
- 5.
Paikowsky, Deganit. Clubs of Power: Why Nation-States Join the Space Club. Tel Aviv University, 2010.
Paikowsky, Deganit. From the Shavit-2 to Ofeq-1- A History of the Israeli Space Effort. Quest (2011 forthcoming).
- 6.
Government Secretariat. Decision number 1255 (4/49) of the Ministerial Committee for Science dated January 23, 1983 was approved as a government decision, entitled Israeli Space Agency (ISA Archives).
- 7.
Report of the State Comptroller for 2001. Annual Report 52a. Project Ofeq: 252–3.
- 8.
Ibid.
- 9.
TECHSAT, which was launched on a Russian launcher in 1998.
- 10.
“Israel’s Space Capability and Competitiveness.” 2011 Space Competitiveness Index. Futron. 2011: 51.
- 11.
Paikowsky, Deganit, and Isaac Ben-Israel. “Trends in Shaping Space Policies Around the World.” Yearbook on Space Policy 2009/2010: Space for Society. Eds. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Spyros Pagkratis and Blandina Baranes. Vienna: SpringerWienNewYork, 2011. 260.
- 12.
Katz, Yaakov. “Former Military Space Head: Israel is Losing its Edge.” 2 Sept. 2011. The Jerusalem Post 19 Nov. 2011 http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=236395.
- 13.
About 290 Million Euro.
- 14.
About 1.8 Billion Euro.
- 15.
Katz, Yaakov. “Security and Defense: Reaching for the Stars.” 28 Sept. 2011. The Jerusalem Post 19 Nov. 2011 http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=239796.
- 16.
The biggest nongovernmental Defence Industry in Israel.
- 17.
It is generally stated by most ELBIT Systems senior representatives during introductory presentations. The author.
- 18.
Dvir, D., and A. Tishler. “The Changing Role of the Defence Industry in Israel’s Industrial and Technological Development.” Defense Analysis 16.1 (2001): 36; see also Battilega, J., R. Greenwalt, D. Beachley, D. Beck, E. Driver, and B. Jackson. “Transformation in Global Defense Markets & Industries: Implication from the Future of Warfare – the Case of Israel.” 10 Jan. 2010 http://fas.org/irp/nic/battilega/israel.pdf.
- 19.
While experiencing the bloodshed in Syria, the attempt at lynching in the Israeli embassy in Cairo without any control by the law-enforcement forces, it seems that the “Spring” may change into “Dark Winter.”
- 20.
Such as the planned September declaration of a Palestinian State, the Iranian “agenda”, the tension with Turkey as well as the latest terror attacks from Gaza strip and Sinai including rockets launches directed against the south of Israel while writing this article.
- 21.
Josef Weiss, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Systems, Missiles and Space Group of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, in his presentation during a Space Work-Shop held in Tel Aviv University, Nov. 2009.
- 22.
Singer, Zvi. “Huge Budget Space Agency Will Leverage the Global Space in Israel to the Top.” 29 Jan. 2012. Megafon News 13. Feb. 2012 http://megafon-news.co.il/asys/archives/16103.
- 23.
Ronen, Gil. “Israel’s Space Budget Lifts Off: From NIS 10M to 165M.” 29 Jan 2012. Israel National News 13 Feb. 2012 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152231.
- 24.
Menachem Kidron, Head of ISA, The 7th Annual International Ilan Ramon Space Conference, Jan. 2012 http://www.hayadan.org.il/future-of-isa-130112/.
Acknowledgements
This chapter is dedicated to the so few, owed by so many: the pioneers and the first leaders of the Israeli “space odyssey”, the very small but very qualitative and dedicated Israeli Space Community members. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Deganit Paikowsky, Academic Director and Fellow at the Yuval Ne’eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security, Tel Aviv University. Last but not least, I would like to thank my supporting and loving family and especially my wife Orna, for her encouragement and patience.
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Barok, D. (2013). Cooperation in Space Between Europe and Israel in Light of the Recent ESA-ISA Agreement. In: Hulsroj, P., Pagkratis, S., Baranes, B. (eds) Yearbook on Space Policy 2010/2011. Yearbook on Space Policy. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1363-9_8
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