CAN PLANNING HELP IN TIME OF CRISIS - PLANNERS RESPONSES TO ISRAELS RECENT WAVE OF MASS IMMIGRATION

This paper looks at the national crisis of mass immigration to Israel between 1990 and 1992 as a large-scale laboratory for studying the responses of planners and decisionmakers to crises. Several planning theorists have expressed doubt that there are recognized planning approaches for handling crises, or that planning can be of much help. Can planning guide decisions when uncertainty and turbulence are of such magnitude, or are crises accompanied by ''planning failure''? Or may the planning function, perhaps, be strengthened? Do crises show decision modes or trajectories different from noncrisis situations? And what roles do planners play? How do they face situations of heightened ethical conflict? This paper analyzes the modes of response of decisionmakers and planners in crisis, following its various phases, and then draws lessons that can enhance our understanding of planning practice in varied contexts and types of problems.