WASHINGTON (JTA) – Counterterrorism officials from five U.S. cities met with their counterparts in Israel.

Ten officials from five major cities -- New York; Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; Austin, Texas; and Houston -- met in mid-October with representatives of Israel's police, the Jerusalem Post reported. The tour focused on "technological and operational advances in counterterrorism," according to the American Jewish Committee's Project Interchange, which organized the tour.

Separately, the New York Police Department now has a branch in Israel.

The branch is located within the Kfar Saba police station in the Sharon District and is designed to maintain a working relationship with the Israeli police force, Al-Monitor reported in September.

Charlie Ben-Naim, a former Israeli citizen who had been a detective on the New York police force, will man the station by himself, the report said.

The goal of the satellite office is to fight terrorism.

The New York Police Department also has offices in England, Germany and Canada.