The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) was established via Decision 43/B of the Ministerial Committee for National Security as accepted on December 19th 2007. NEMA is part of the Ministry of Defense and answers to the Minister of Defense. Its mission is to be part of the Minister of Defense's staff and to assist the Minister in exercising his responsibility for taking care of the home front in any kind of emergency situation.
NEMA Vision
A professional organization, which serves as a local and international knowledge center, and leads, directs, and coordinates state authorities towards professional, effective handling of the Home Front during various emergencies – while cooperating with and being committed to the population.
Main Objective
Ensuring that Israel's Home Front is solid, firmly based on national strength and ready to deal with national emergencies and challenges posed by various threats, by:
• Coordinating and directing all organizations, institutions and functions dealing with the Home Front.
• Establishing a common language and creating joint, combined working plans
NEMA operates by these values:
• commitment to the population
• Professionalism
• Leadership, initiative and creativity
• presentability
• overall responsibility
NEMA's Duties
NEMA was established in order to prepare the home front for various national emergencies, and thus reduce as much as possible injuries and damages , to enable maintenance of a reasonable life routine, as well as directing and guiding government ministries and local authorities on all aspects of handling emergencies. NEMA operates during both peaceful times and emergencies.
• During peaceful times NEMA forms emergency plans, simulates various scenarios, maintains a ready room and coordinates all publicity activity.
• During emergencies NEMA operates a ready room, coordinates between the various relief agencies, and coordinates all publicity activity.
The National Economy Emergency System and NEMA
According to government's decision 706 from August 23rd 2009 the National Israel Economy Emergency system (IEE) was unified with the National Emergency Management Authority. NEMA will operate and coordinate government ministries, designated agencies, municipalities and the various IEE Committees, to ensure that factories and services essential to the home front population continues to operate; to minimize possible disruptions; and to allow maintenance of a reasonable life routine as much as possible.
The national emergency system operates within the framework of several emergency committees:
• Supreme Committee for preparedness (IEE) and dealing with home front emergencies
• Designated Emergency Committees to be established in each of the governmental ministries and authorities
• Regional IEE Committees to be established in various regions
• Local IEE Committees to be established in each municipality
According to the government's decision the Head of NEMA will also preside as the permanent acting chairperson of the Supreme Emergency Committee (IEE).
National Emergencies
Israel is required to prepare for several threats:
• A full-scale was or a limited conflict
• Conventional or unconventional mega-terror attacks
• Natural Disasters such as earthquakes or floods
• Plagues
• Spreading of materials that may lead to a mass disaster as a result of operational malfunctions or accidents.
• Cyber-terrorism
NEMA concentrates the preparation of the various organizations and institutions to each of these scenarios.
Head of NEMA
The Head of NEMA is Brigadier General (ret.) Ze'ev Tsuk-Ram (Vova). Brigadier General Tsuk-Ram, former Chief of Staff of the Home Front Command, holds a BA in Political Science and Criminology from Bar-Ilan University, and an MA in Political Science, International Relations and Disaster Management from the University of Haifa. Brigadier General Tsuk-Ram is an expert on Home Front and Unconventional Terror and is experienced in organizing national home front drills. He is a graduate of the National Security College and served previously as a member of the Prime Minister's Office's National Security Council and as a Command Operations Officer.
