Israel's PM Bennett Calls For Establishment Of 'Global Cybernet Shield'

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called for the establishment of a “global cybernet shield” to combat the growing spread of cyber-attacks affecting individuals, companies and nations.

In a speech at Tel Aviv University’s Cyber Week, Bennett – displaying the airs of the tech CEO that he once was – suggested that Israel was uniquely placed to lead the establishment of such a program. 

As a nation that understands it must defend itself, Israel was one of the first in the world to establish a single national cyber agency, “responsible for defending all critical infrastructure,” Bennet said. 

Critically, as well as defending state assets this agency is also responsible for coordinating the security of the private sector, he stressed. 

In recent years malicious cyber actors have focused on targeting the underbelly of a state, damaging it indirectly by hurting its economy with hacks against private companies. Israel’s cyber agency was designed to prevent this, by facilitating the exchange of information on emerging cyber threats. 

Having seen the success of the program nationally, Israel intends to scale it internationally. 

“We invite all likeminded, good countries around the world” to join the cybernet shield initiative, the Prime Minister said.