Germany seeks deeper partnership with Israel on cybersecurity

Germany plans to strengthen its cybersecurity collaboration with Israel and establish a joint cyber research center following the recent military and cyber escalation between Israel and Iran.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt outlined the proposal during a visit to Israel on Sunday, according to a report by the German newspaper Bild.

The initiative, dubbed the “Cyber Dome,” includes the creation of a German-Israeli cyber research center, expanded cooperation between Israel’s Mossad and Germany’s BND intelligence agency, strengthened cyber and anti-drone defenses and the development of a nationwide system of emergency alerts and civil shelters modeled on Israel’s.

“Military defense alone is not sufficient for this turning point in security,” Dobrindt said. He praised Israeli cyber units for thwarting Iranian cyberattacks during the conflict.

The 12-day military conflict between Israel and Iran, which ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in June, also led to an escalation in cyberspace, with state-sponsored and volunteer hackers targeting government agencies, media outlets and critical infrastructure.

Israeli journalists and academics were targeted in a phishing campaign attributed to the Iranian threat group APT42. In response to Israeli cyberattacks, Iranian authorities restricted internet access and banned connected devices within security agencies.

Germany has not reported any recent Iran-linked cyberattacks recently, but its authorities have previously warned of growing cyber and espionage threats from foreign actors, particularly Russia, China and Iran.

A government report last year said Iranian intelligence activities in Germany primarily focused on surveilling Iranian opposition groups based in the country.