Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Thursday, 23 January 2014), at the
2014 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, addressed a conference of global information technology leaders.
Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that Israel is an innovation nation and said that it is interested in sharing with the world the considerable know-how that we have accumulated in protecting industries from technology-based attacks. He added that sophisticated defensive capabilities are a prerequisite for any technology. He said that Israel is investing in teaching the subject at the secondary level and pointed out that the recently formed
Israel National Cyber Bureau (INCB) is expanding cooperation with institutions of higher education in the country. He called on his interlocutors to come and grow with Israel.
Cyber studies are part of the curriculum in Israeli high schools, including as part of the
Magshimim program to encourage excellence, training and development in the cyber and computer fields among 16-18-year-old youth in the periphery (Acre, Afula, Tel Hai, Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva, Kiryat Gat and Ashdod).
The aforesaid program was established on the basis of the assumption that the State of Israel has qualitative human capital that can lead toward excellence in the cyber field and on the understanding that developing human capital will meet security needs and spur socio-economic growth. The program is supported by the INCB and led by the IDF in conjunction with security agencies, the Rashi Foundation, the National Lottery and the Education Ministry.
In December 2013, the government approved the creation of the Digital Israel initiative which is designed to find innovative ways to provide digital services to the public via the use of advanced technologies that allow for the rapid transfer of high-volume content over a fiber-optic (or other) infrastructure.
The initiative will facilitate public links with, and accessibility to, the education, health and social welfare systems in the State of Israel while reducing geographic and social gaps, thus drawing the periphery closer to the center. In the future, the initiative will be expanded to other relevant government ministries. The initiative will also promote the infusion of technological tools in both the business and public sectors, including in small businesses by (inter alia) encouraging online commerce and sharing information, reducing bureaucracy and using online means to improve public service efficiency without having to leave one's home. The initiative is being led by the Prime Minister's Office, including Director General Harel Locker and Deputy Director General Yossi Catribas.
On
Friday morning (24 January 2014), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a special conference on the cyber issue that was held under the heading "Risk and Responsibility in a Hyperconnected World". Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and dozens of senior managers from around the world also attended.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was invited to address the conference, said that in the hyperconnected world in which we live, there are endless opportunities which are challenged by relentless attacks. He said that this was a global threat that had to be dealt with. The Prime Minister noted that Israel has hundreds of companies that were established in recent years and which concentrate on defensive technologies. He added that Israel was interested in sharing this know-how and invited conference participants to work together with us.
Prime Minister Netanyahu updated participants on the Digital Israel project which the Government approved last month in order to find innovative ways to provide digital services to the public via the use of advanced technologies that allow for the rapid transfer of high-volume content over a fiber-optic (or other) infrastructure.
The initiative will facilitate public links with, and accessibility to, the education, health and social welfare systems in the State of Israel while reducing geographic and social gaps, thus drawing the periphery closer to the center. In the future, the initiative will be expanded to other relevant government ministries. The initiative will also promote the infusion of technological tools in both the business and public sectors, including in small businesses by (inter alia) encouraging online commerce and sharing information, reducing bureaucracy and using online means to improve public service efficiency without having to leave one's home. The initiative is being led by the Prime Minister's Office, including Director General Harel Locker and Deputy Director General Yossi Catribas.