Overview July 1999: Israel

1. Parliament and Government

The Parliamentary Sub-Committee "Preparation of Israel towards the Information Age" (Eitan Committee) was established in the Economy Committee of the Parliament (Knesset). The umbrella report it produced assisted by some 80 consultants which volunteered to the task was published in April 1997 and has since guided several governmental initiatives. The chairman of that committee is now establishing the Internet Lobby in the newly elected parliament. Among the projects implementing the above mentioned parliamentary report are the TEHILA and the HILA projects:

• Ministry of Finance - TEHILA: - The Vice-Director of the Division of National Accountancy at the Ministry of Finances heads the Governmental Internet Committee. The Tehila Project (The Internet at Service of the Israeli Government) was established by this committee and is headed by the Chief IT Officer at the Ministry (Vice-National Accountant). Its purpose is to integrate the Internet into the government's working processes. It includes the establishment of a secure servers farm for Internet access by governmental ministries; several initiatives for making government more accessible to the citizen; training of government officers in the use of the Internet; electronic forms access and more. The project has prepared or ordered documents analysing the legal implications of the Internet in government including issues like privacy, copyright of materials made available by the government, ethical problems, data security, government accessibility, Hebrew. The project is also responsible for domain name registration under GOV.IL.
  
  
• HILA: Preparing Israel for the Information Age: a project established at the PM office following the Eitan Report. It includes the establishment of a Web Portal to Government setting up a common entry to governmental services and the "Computer for Every Child" program in collaboration with the Ministry of Work and Welfare. With the present government replacement this project is now expected to go through a transitional period.
  
  
• Ministry of Industry and Trade: several branches have an important role related to the Information Society in Israel. A forum on Electronic Commerce has been established by the director-general in cooperation with the Israel Industries Association. Other important functions:
  • The Office of the Chief Scientist and the Directorate for Research and Industrial Development: This is the main source of governmental resources for supporting innovation in the Israeli industry. Among the different programs of this office are the generic technologies consortia; the technological incubators program; international cooperation program.
    Among the relevant generic technologies consortia should be pointed out the Israeli Broadband Telecommunications R&D Consortium and the Multimedia Broadband Consortium; the later announced a R&D program of 100 million dollars (including the investment of the members). Both consortia include companies which play significant roles related to distance education products; video on demand and other interactive technologies.
  • International Cooperation and Exports: Among the institutions related to the Ministry of Trade and Industry is MATIMOP, The Israeli Industry R&D Center who is in charge of the bi-lateral international agreements of the Ministry; in addition to awareness initiatives it maintains a public available database of companies and projects, many of them in areas like software, computers, communications, electro-optics, electronics and other areas relate to the IS. It also hosts the IRC Innovation Relay Center in Israel. Another institution is ISERD the Israeli Directorate for the Fifth Framework Program. Closely related to the Ministry of Trade and Industry although defined as an inter-ministerial initiative (Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Science). A significant part of its activities are related to the IST program in the 5FP. The Export Institute provides training and marketing support to the industry; exhibitions; maintain databases and provide other information services for the industry and interested parties abroad. The SME Authority is another independent non-profit association established by the Ministry that developed information services supporting this target population of enterprises in Israel.
  • EDI - The Ministry is involved through the Export Institute and other institutions, the Israel Industry Association and the Ministry of Finance in advancing EDI applications in the Israel.

• Ministry of Science: The Ministry plays an important role related to IS in Israel. Support for basic research in the academy is provided through the Committee for Planning and Budgeting of the Universities. Since 1993 following the Committee of the Thirteen report several National Infrastructures Committees have been established.
  
  Among them, the National Committee for Information Technologies Infrastructures launched the program for demonstration projects for the Super Highway of Information. It has supported several such projects between 1995 and 1998: projects to provide access to government information (Central Bureau of Statistics, The Citizens' Counseling Service); digital libraries; community networking; development of Hebrew support for search and harvesting engines; distance learning and more.
  The National Committee is now focusing into projects which will extend the support for Hebrew in computing and in computer mediated communications and the Internet II Project.
  
  
• Internet II /New Generation Internet The Internet II Israeli project has been launched in 1999 and the Minister of Science announced an investment of 40 million dollars in the next four years for the project. It will provide a testbed for research in broadband technologies applications and the provision dedicated bandwidth and Quality of Service networks. The management of the project was outsourced by the Ministry of Science to the IUCC (Inter University Computer Center). The network is already in place and has been connected to the StarTAP in Chicago and to the Quantum Project in Europe. The project is open to the participation of the universities and qualified R&D industrial partners. It will not substitute in any case routine Internet services. Envisioned applications encompass telemedicine, virtual reality tele-working, distance learning, visualisation in chemistry, biology and physics; digital libraries and more.
  
  
• Ministry of Communications: The Ministry is the main planning and regulatory institution and its activities are described at lenght in the regulatory master report.
  
  
• Bank of Israel, office of the Supervisor of the Banks: the office has a regulatory role in the process of introducing distance banking in Israel and banking services through the Internet.
  
  
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Ministry has been the pioneer in using extesively the Internet to provide information about Israel. It maintains large email distribution lists and its 'web site is the best source for updated information of Israel both of a background nature as well concerning current political developments. The Department for Scientific and Cultural agreements serves as the Focal Point for the Euro Mediterranean Information Society Program (EUMEDIS).

2. Education

2.1 The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports

The divisions of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports that have an important role in IS in Israel are the following:

• Directorate for Science and Technology - The second phase of the computerisation program of the educational system in Israel is being carried by the Directorate in cooperation with the Local Authorities and the National Lottery (with a joint budget of some $ 45 Million a year for five years). The program will equip the schools and provide training and pedagogical support; the target is to provide one computer for every ten students in the system. A regional logistic support system is now being put in place. Other central initiatives of the Directorate include the establishment of Centers for Science and Arts (with the Lottery); the program for inducing girls to choose technological professions; a new program for Science and Technology in Junior High-School and many more.

• Directorate for Information Systems - The Kishurim project, carried out in cooperation with the Local Authorities in Israel is establishing a pedagogical and an administrative network connecting the schools, municipalities, community centers, pedagogical and teachers centers, and other sites of the educational system. Other functions include the provision of information for strategic management; operation of the computerised administrative systems of the schools MAMBAS; citizen access to educational information; dissemination of the use of the Internet and Intranet in the Ministry and more.

• Directorate for Training and Education of Teachers - The Division for Teachers Education established, with the Mofet Institute, in the framework of the Tommorrow '98 Program the National Network of Teacher Education Colleges (MACAM98). It connects 36 colleges and serves about 15,000 users. The Development Team for this network has a pioneering role in Israel in disseminating the use of the Internet and in the establishment of Virtual Leaning Environments. The Division for Teachers In-service training established a large training center focused on IT at which teachers periodically come for basic and advanced training.

• Tomorrow '98 Program: The main project for Science and Technology in the educational system following the Harari Report of 1993. It has oriented the introduction of IT in all subject matters including social studies and humanities; it involved also an intensive program of equipment and upgrading of facilities of the schools. Regional pedagogical support centers for supporting teacher in the use of IT technologies have been established.

• Regional projects Several regional projects in the educational system have a strong IT component and have been the basis for the establishment of regional pedagogical networks. Among them the Zfonet (North) and the Madarom (South) networks.

There are a few leading Technology Schools Networks in Israel. They became the basis for the establishment of Internet based networks among the schools. The main networks are ORTNet (from the Israeli ORT Organisation) and AmalNet (belonging to the Syndicates Technology Schools Network); an additional one is the Amit Network of religious technology schools.

2.2 Universities, NGO's and associations

There are many other initiatives based either of universities, non-profit corporations, or corporations. The Snunit Project at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem caters to the K12 population and teachers is one of the pioneer initiatives in this area in Israel; it maintains also the Aviv ORT Virtual School for the ORTNet network. The Center for Educational Technology has developed several training packages and networking tools for schools and provide content, including advanced network support for Arab Language studies. The MAPAT Amal is an important center for training and production of databases and CD Roms.

• The Universities are connected to the Internet through the ILAN (Israel Academic Network) maintained by the IUCC (Inter University Computer Center) that provide the basic networking and information services. In addition they have IS relevant projects targeted either to their students (distance education) or to the k12 population. Centers for Science Education in the Universities or other outreach programs host educational programs making extensive use of IT: The Technion (The Israel Technological Institute); the Bar Ilan University; the Tel-Aviv University; the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; the Weizmann Institute and the Ben Gurion University. The Open University works in close collaboration with the Center of Educational Technologies; it operates an ambitious, satellite based program for distance education in collaboration with the Gilat Corporation. Another corporation active in the area of satellite based distance education is the Harel Tikshoret. There are many other educational networking initiatives among them the Schoolink package of the CET associated to the Kishurim program and the Schoolnet network; Netschool; Keshev; Edusystems network and many more.

• Multimedia Industry: Israel has a very active Multimedia Industry. It is mainly oriented to foreign markets; the local educational system enjoys from well developed products made available by these companies in localised versions.

• The Jewish Agency through its Education Department provides several databases and Web sites available through the Internet; it provides support to teachers and other educators. The Partnership 2000 program from the Israel Department develops programs twinning schools and communities in Israel and abroad using IT; many other institutions related to the Jewish Agency have similar programs.

• MAKASH - Advancing CMC Applications in Education is the National Coordinator for Israel participation in Netdays Europe (DG XXII) and is Israel's representative to the EUN (European Schoolnet). It acts in close coopeation with the Directorate for Science and Technology and the International Relations Unit of the Ministry of Education.

• Educational Television: Subordinated in principle to the Ministry of Education it has the largest chunk of broadcasting time in Israel both through the First Channel; the Cables system and the Second (Commercial) Channel. It is an important element in the production of advanced localised educational content. It begin to market general education programs based on videocassettes and telephone support.

3. Telecommunications and Broadcasting

The regulatory body in this area of cable TV and satellite is the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting at the Ministry of Communications. The operators and regulators in other broadcasting areas are The Israel Broadcasting Authority at the P.M. Office (Public Radio and Television Broadcasting); the Second Authority for Television and Radio is now being transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Communications.

The Second Authority is in charge of commercial providers, the second TV Channel with three content providers licensed and a news company and 13 regional radio stations.

Following a process of consolidation there are now three main cable TV providers: Aruzei Zahav, Matab and Tevel. Aruzei Zahav and Tevel hold two thirds of the holdings of the leading Internet provider in Israel, Netvision. The Noga Tikshoret company is the local content provider contracted by the three companies to fill their obligations concerning local production.

DBS services are expected to be offered later this year by a DBS company which recently received license to operate; it will use the services of the Israeli satellite Amos-1, the Israele geostationary satellite which began commercial operations in June, 1996.

4. Internet

There are about 100 licenses provided by the Ministry of Communications for Internet Services Providers; the director of the Ministry observes that the Israeli market seems to have place for 30 such operators - this is the number of active ISPs available in the last years at any given time. The leading ISP is Netvision with a share market of about 50%; the second is Internet Zahav with 26% of the market. the Bezeq International, a subsidiary of the historical operator following its acquisition of the ISDN-NET ISP has been aggressively marketing Internet services. It has lately acquired control of the main Israeli portal, Walla. This acquisition is being examined by the Anti Trust Authority Commissioner. Other important Israeli portals are Tapuz and IOL (Israel On-Line), the last a service of the Haaretz newspaper.

The Internet in Israel was restricted to the academy until 1993 when a gradual process of opening to additional users was started. An inter ministerial committee allocated licenses for users from the R&D Industrial community and educational or non-profit institutions; four ISP were then licensed and two actually provided services. Since 1995 the use has been liberalised and there are a growing number of providers.

While an academic network (ILAN Israeli Academic Network) the main tasks needed for the smooth operation of the Internet were carried out by MACHBA - IUCC The InterUniversity Computer Center. This is a non-profit corporation composed by the Computer Centres from the Universities in Israel. With the liberalisation functions like IP numbers allocation and domain name registration were transferred by the IUCC to the Israel Internet Association.

The Israel Internet Association grew up from the voluntary activities carried out during the process of transformation the Internet in Israel from an academic into a public network. From the seminars and conferences for the diffusion of the Internet it evolved into a central piece of the Israeli Internet scene. In addition to IP number allocation and domain name registration under IL the association is the Israeli Chapter of the Internet Society and manages the IIX, the Israeli Internet eXchange. The IIX is the central meeting point of the ISPs in Israel; its purpose being to route all intra-Israel Internet traffic, among the operators as efficiently as possible.

The Israel Internet Association maintains the international relations needed for the Internet community in Israel: with RIPE; TERENA; the Internet Society, the W3C Consortium; ICANN; The European Coordination Committee of the Internet Society; the EUROMED Net initiative of the European Commission and more. The association is an independent non-profit corporation associated to ILA, the Israel Information Technologies Association.

5. Industry, Trade and Professional associations

• Israel Industry Association: This is the umbrella association for the Israeli industry and it plays an important role in association with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in setting the policy for Electronic Commerce; in the area of Tourism; in the introduction of EDI in Israel and more. Affiliated institutions are MATIMOP The Israeli Industry R&D Center; The Association of Software Houses in Israel; The Electronics Industries Association and more.

• ILA - The Israeli Information Technology Association is the professional organisation of the computer professionals and the computer industry in Israel. It maintains several SIG in areas like Quality Assurance in Information Technologies; IT Security; Data Warehouses; Assimilation of Information Systems in the Organisation; Intelligent Cards; Y2K; ERP; CRM; Computer Communications. There are several independent associated organizations focused in special areas like computers in education, telemedicine, Internet, Unix and more. In cooperation with these associated institutions there are SIG in areas like telemedicine, Intranet, Training through the Internet, Electronic Commerce and more. ILA publishes a regular newsletter and has an annual conference; last year the conference has an international character and has taken place in cooperation with Telecom '98.

• MOAH - The Israeli Association for Computers in Education, specialised association affiliated to ILA . It is the professional association of educators, trainers and industry involved with computer applications in education. It maintains a regular publication, an annual conference and periodic seminars.

• AMIX - Specialised association affiliated with ILA associating Unix developers in Israel;

• The Israeli Association for Information Systems in Medicine - Specialised association affiliated with ILA that congregates the professionals in the area of Information Technologies in Medicine including telemedicine, EIS, HIS, DSS, Medical Databases and more.

• ITA - Israeli Teleworking Association was established in 1998 to promote home and cottage teleworking in Israel. It has established a Web site and prepared several background documents.

• Israel Internet Association: Specialised association affiliated with ILA associating that established and manages the IIX; domain name registration; IP numbers allocation and is also the Israeli Chapter of the Internet Society.

• The Israel Chamber of Commerce Association: The association has played an important role in the development of use of credit cards in Israel and in the area of electronic commerce. It established in association with the Israeli Export Institute the Israeli Forum for Electronic Commerce.

• The Israeli Lottery: Plays an important role in the budget of the Local Authorities in Israel which actually manage the Lottery. It supports the computerisation of the educational system program (a third o the budget); lately it has initiated a large Digital Library project.

• The Association of Local Authorities in Israel: The local authorities contribute with a third of the budget for the computerisation of the educational system in Israel; through its Data Mechanisation Company it is active in the introduction of Internet based projects and programs in the municipal government in Israel; many of the local authorities information services, Web based, that were lately established in Israel have been contracted to the IT Company owned by the association.

6. Electronic Commerce

An Electronic Commerce forum established was established by the director general of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the Israel Industries Association to set policy in this area. Other institutions relevant is the Israeli Electronic Commerce Forum established by the Israeli Chambers of Commerce association and the Export Institute. The Supervisor of the Banks also plays an important role in this area.

Several corporations have begun to offer Merchant services for corporations interested in using electronic commerce channels in the Internet.