Former PM Netanyahu discusses history and future of Israeli cyber on Cybertech Global TLV stage

“We needed a new doctrine. A lot of intellectual rigor was invested in figuring out the best offense and defense”, said Netanyahu at Cybertech Global TLV

Photo by Gilad Kavalerchik

Former Prime Minister of Israel and Current Head of Opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke today (Thursday) at Cybertech Global TLV and reviewed how Israel became the cyber empire it is today.

Netanyahu told the audience how in 2010, after reading a novel depicting a cyber war between the US and China, he begam realizing the future implications of cyber for Israel and the world. “We couldn’t be left defenseless in this developing cyber world,” he said.

However, in those early days of cyber, which strategy to devise and what to do next was unclear. However, “we fell in line and set up the national cyber board, and set up requirements and guidelines for our civilian defense,” said Netanyahu.

“We needed a new doctrine. A lot of intellectual rigor was invested in figuring out the best offense and defense. We plunged ahead, set up institutions and began to move.

“Everything was based on a goal I set in 2012 – that within 5 years Israel becomes one of the leading cyber powers in the world. And this was based on the question of security – how to defend the country in this new world.

“In 2010 we had about $60 million worth of cyber investment. By 2021 was almost $9 billion,” said Netanyahu.

Netanyahu also addressed the war in Ukraine. “ We see a cyber in warfare right now, in the tragic events that are unfolding in Ukraine right now,” he said, adding that there are tens of thousands of programmers who work for Israeli companies in Ukraine right now.

“We have to find a solution – the best solution is to include these people in those we offer a visa,” said Netanyahu.

Watch Benjamin Netanyahu on the Cybertech stage: