"Israel does not currently have an adequate response to targeted cyber attacks in the civilian sector," said Israel National Council for R&D chairman Prof. Isaac Ben-Israel. "Granted, Israel's situation is not bad, and it has the potential to be a key global player in the cyber protection field. However, Israel is lacking activity in the R&D field." Ben-Israel made these remarks about potential combat in cyber space at a Knesset Science and Technology Committee session, headed by MK Meir Sheetrit (Kadima).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Ben-Israel two months ago to examine Israel's readiness to fight potential warfare in the this area. Netanyahu announced the establishing of a "National Cyber Headquarters," with an investment of hundreds of millions of shekels. At the session, Ben-Israel presented recommendations of the Science and Technology Committee, which he heads, for readiness against cyber attacks. The committee recommended: establishing a national cyber headquarters to report directly to the Prime Minister, with a budget of NIS 100 million; establishing an office to deal with the country's infrastructure and the civil sector; policy and regulatory change to encourage the cyber industry; encouraging cyber R&D; developing centers of excellence and encouraging academic and industrial research.

"Israel is home to the strongest leading academics in the world in encryption," said Ben-Israel. "We are among the best in the world in the field of theory; however there is room for improvement in the practical and industrial areas. We need to hold cyber space simulations in our defense establishment and in academia, for training and development."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 5, 2011

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