Germany wants ‘cyber dome’ from Israel

(MENAFN) Germany is considering the creation of a nationwide "cyber dome" to shield against digital threats, drawing inspiration from Israel’s advanced defense systems. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt made the announcement on Sunday following a recent visit to Israel, which had just concluded a 12-day military conflict with Iran.

In an interview with Bild, Dobrindt praised Israel’s civil defense capabilities and urged Germany to adopt similar strategies for safeguarding against cyberattacks. “We will work closely with Israel on this,” he stated. “Germany needs a cyber dome – a powerful, digital shield against espionage, sabotage, and threats to vital infrastructure like energy and communication networks.”

While Dobrindt did not offer detailed plans, the term “cyber dome” appears to echo Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system, repurposed here as a metaphor for digital security.

Germany’s interest in cyber defense comes as the country faces a spike in cybercrime. Earlier this month, the Federal Crime Office (BKA) reported a record 131,000 cybercrime cases in 2024. Officials pointed to increased activity from pro-Russian and anti-Israeli hacktivist groups, particularly targeting state institutions and private sector companies through denial-of-service attacks.

Germany’s newly installed government, in office since May, has taken a strongly pro-Israel stance, particularly during its conflict with Iran. Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly defended Israel’s military actions, describing them as efforts to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons and even referring to the strikes as “dirty work for us.”

The recent Israel-Iran confrontation involved long-range attacks and caused around $3 billion in damage, according to Israeli authorities. Iran has accused Israel of aggression and claimed its own strikes were acts of self-defense.

Meanwhile, Berlin has approved a defense-heavy budget that includes significant borrowing to double military spending by 2029. The German government argues the boost is necessary to deter potential threats from Russia—an idea Moscow has dismissed as a pretext to justify worsening living conditions in the West.

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