The complexities of the drug phenomena and the global desire to combat it, offers a comfortable  setting for countries to work together. At a regional level, cooperation between neighbouring countries and multi-lateral agreements are essential and necessary in order to control the flow of illicit drugs and crime.

UNODC's Regional Office for the Middle East & North Africa (ROMENA)

Israel belongs to the UNODC's Regional Office located in Cairo, Egypt, which is responsible for drug related activities in 19 countries in the region (North Africa, Middle-East, Persian Gulf). Over the years, IADA has made much efforts to participate in activites organized by the Regional Office for countries in the region. Recently, Israeli representatives took part in several workshops, part of the Law Enforcement Exchange Program organized by the UNODC's Regional Office: Training for Trainers, Controlled Delivery, Drug Interdiction at Airports,  Drug Interdiction at Seaports, Strengthening Border Control Against Drugs Smuggling.
UNODC's Regional Office has also oganized  several joint meetings between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in order to facilitate regional and bi-lateral cooperation on drug control and crime.

The Palestinian Authority

Much effort has been expanded over the years to enhance cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority following a Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon by both sides in Cairo in 2005. Unfortunately the political situation that followed did not allow much progress until the end of 2007, when professional relations finally resumed, and both sides agreed on the need for information exchange in particular regarding drug demand and supply reduction.

Cooperation started off on a positive note, with a study visit by a delegation of Palestinian physicians, working in the field of addictions, to Israel. During the two day visit, the delegation consisting of 10 representatives of the Palestinian Authority, UNRWA and Ministry of Health, as well as a representative of the UN's Regional Office was hosted by the Israeli representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, who provided participants with a thorough overview of the field of treatment of drug addicts in Israel.

While cooperation between law enforcement officers from Israel and the Palestinian Authority occur regularly on a daily basis, a first joint meeting was organized by the UNODC's Regional Office, as part of the joint project. The meeting offered an opportunity for mutual learning between law enforcement officials from both sides, as well as a chance for establishing joint action plans for working together.

Jordan

Israel and Jordanian have maintained very good relations over the past years. Strengthening and enhancing relations with our Jordanian counterpart continued with several mutual study visits taking place. Jordan's Anti-Narcotics Department is the second largest anti-drug organization in the Arab world, following the Egyptian Anti-Narcotic General Administration.

Israeli delegations to Jordan
A delegation of treatment and prevention professionals
A delegation of local coordinators

Jordanian delegations to Israel
A delegation of law enforcement officials
A delegation of treatment professionals