States & Formal Agreements with Israel

Alabama

In 1997, Gov. Fob James led a trade mission to Israel and signed an agreement to promote trade and culture.

California

In 1992, Gov. Pete Wilson signed an agreement to promote bilateral trade and tourism with Israel. The California Israel Exchange (CIX) was established to promote mutual business development in the areas of biomedicine, energy, telecommunications, high technology and agrotechnology. In May 1998, a new research and development cooperation agreement was signed. Gov. Gray Davis visited Israel in October 1999 and signed an agreement for cooperation in the area of biotechnology.

Connecticut

In 1988, Governor William O’Neill signed an agreement that led to the creation of the Connecticut-Israel Exchange (CONNIX). The purpose is to expand economic, scientific, educational, technological, commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation and exchange.

Florida

In December 1987, the Florida-Israel Cooperative Venture (FICV) was created to foster cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, including tourism, trade and investment and the advancement of technologies. In August 1989, an Agreement of Cooperation was signed by Gov. Bob Martinez to reinforce the FICV.

The Florida legislature created the Florida-Israel Institute (FII) to enhance educational, research, economic and cultural exchanges between Florida and Israel. It is administered by Florida Atlantic University and Broward Community College.

Georgia

Gov. Zell Miller created the Georgia-Israel Exchange in 1992 to explore emerging technology in both industry and agriculture, enhance trade, encourage tourism and jointly participate in economic development programs.

Hawaii

In May 2004, Linda Lingle, the Jewish Republican governor of Hawaii, made her first trip to Israel. After meeting with political leaders, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, she signed an Agricultural Cooperative Agreement with the Israeli government establishing a memorandum of understanding between the state of Hawaii and the government of Israeli. This historic agreement was signed with Israeli Minister of Agriculture Israel Katz in a ceremony in Beit Dagan. It is a direct bilateral agreement with Israel to foster cooperation in the areas of agriculture and aguaculture research and development.

Illinois

In 1988, Gov. James Thompson signed a Memorandum of Intent that created the Illinois-Israel Initiative, which calls for projects of mutual economic benefit through improved trade, technology development, science, agriculture and tourism.

Massachusetts

In June 2008, Masschusetts lawmakers approved a $1 million life sciences initiave that includes a unique relationship with Israel. The law would authorize joint academic and industrial research and business exchanges with Israel and calls for the creation of trade facilities for pilot projects with the Government of Israel and the Boston Haifa International Life Sciences Institute. Israel and Massachusetts are among the few places that are home to world class research in the life sciences. The partnership provision, which survived several rounds of legislative committee scrutiny, was initiated by Rep. Dan Bosley, a key lawmaker who has gained a deep understanding of Israel, despite the fact that he has a relatively small Jewish constituency. Funding for the partnership is subject to appropriation, but key lawmakers anticipate $10 million over the next ten years.

Maryland

In May 1988, the Maryland-Israel Exchange was signed by Governor William Donald Schaefer. It was designed to develop and expand ventures in the fields of trade, tourism, science and technology, communications, agriculture, aquaculture and transportation. In 1992, the Maryland/Israel Development Center was established by the state of Maryland, the Israeli government, The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and Jewish Agency for Israel to create jobs in Maryland and Israel by promoting trade and joint ventures.

In November 2003, Governor Bob Ehrlich announced the formation of the Maryland/Israel Homeland Security Partnership. The partnership will allow homeland security professionals from Maryland and Israel to share "best practices" used to respond to terror threats.

Also, in 2003, a new program was initiated between the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) and the US-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development fund (BARD) for joint research.

In December 2004, Israel Maryland launched the $1 million Maryland/Israel Development Fund. Each side will contribute $500,000 in grants to companies jointly developing products in the areas of telecommunications, electronics, software, life sciences and homeland security.

Michigan

The Michigan-Israel Technology Venture was established in 1988 to foster exchanges of information and technology, and an Economic Development Cooperative Agreement was signed the same year to promote trade and investment.

Minnesota

In 1987, Gov. Rudy Perpich established the Minnesota-Israel Exchange (MNIX) to foster cooperation and promote trade, investment, science and industry.

Missouri

In 1988, Gov. James Thompson signed a Memorandum of Intent that created the Missouri-Israel Initiative, which calls for projects of mutual economic benefit through improved trade, technology development, science, agriculture and tourism.

Nebraska

Ben Nelson signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote trade and exchanges related to agriculture.

North Carolina

In 1994, Gov. Jim Hunt established an International Commission that includes task forces to stimulate trade and exchanges with Israel in business, academia, arts and culture, education and social services. The North Carolina-Israel Partnership (NCIP) was created in 1996 to manage the cooperative projects.

New Jersey

In 1989, the New Jersey-Israel Commission was created to promote trade, research and product development and exchanges in medicine, electronics and agriculture. Gov. Jim Florio expanded this agreement to include the promotion of tourism during his 1992 trip to Israel.

New York

In 1989, Gov. Mario Cuomo created the International Partnership Program to promote exchanges with Israel in culture, tourism and economic development. The New York-Israel Economic Development Partnership was established specifically to promote trade and strategic alliances.

Ohio

Ohio Arts Council signed an agreement for cultural exchanges with Israel in 1996.

Oklahoma

In 1992, the Oklahoma-Israel Exchange (OKIE) was created by Gov. David Walters to stimulate mutually beneficial projects. In 1994, the legislature established a permanent OKIE Commission to develop joint projects in energy, agriculture, trade, water use and conservation, and cultural and educational exchanges.

Pennsylvania

In 1988, Gov. Tom Ridge led a technology trade mission to Israel and signed an agreement to create high-tech business incubators and family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania and Israel. Pennsylvania also opened a trade office in Jerusalem.

South Carolina

In 1992, Gov. Carroll Campbell, Jr. signed a Memorandum of Intent to establish a South Carolina-Israel Exchange to promote trade, investment, agriculture, education and tourism.

Tennessee

In 1996, Gov. Don Sundquist signed the Tennessee-Israel Cooperation Agreement to promote cooperation between the two countries in trade, arts, culture, education, tourism and university/industry alliances.

Texas

Perhaps the oldest state to state relationship is the Texas-Israel Exchange (TIE), which was created in 1984 to promote mutually beneficial agriculture projects. The agreement was reaffirmed by a new Memorandum of Intent in 1992. In 1994, another agreement was negotiated to create the TIE Fund to support joint agricultural research and development, and foster the expansion of trade. The Texas Legislature enacted legislation providing up to $250,000 for the TIE Fund and Israel agreed to contribute an equal amount.

Vermont

Then-representative Chuck Ross toured Israel in 1991 and was struck by the similarities in agribusiness between Vermont and Israel and helped stimulate the creation of the Vermont Israel Agricultural Exchange (VIAE). The Exchange promotes agricultural research and cooperation in such areas as the treatment of Mastitis (a cattle disease), genetic engineering, aquaculture, integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture. The State allocates approximately $10,000 for VIAE, which is run out of the Department of Agriculture.

Virginia

The Virginia Israel Commission was established in 1986 to investigate the cultural, educational and economic development opportunities between the two states. In 1988 Gov. Gerald Baliles signed a new agreement with Israel, but the commission’s activities waned. In 1995, Gov. George Allen created a new Virginia-Israel Partnership to focus on promoting trade, art, education and general government.