BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that Israel is establishing a national taskforce to prevent cyber “terror attacks” by foreign countries or entities that may attempt to attack the country’s computer networks.

A team of eight experts headed by Maj.-Gen. Isaac Ben-Israel will form the taskforce that will protect the country’s systems from potential internet attacks. Systems that could be susceptible to attacks include electricity grids, credit card facilities, water monitoring networks, transportation and traffic systems. “The main responsibility of the taskforce will be to expand the state’s ability to defend vital infrastructure networks against cybernetic terrorist attacks perpetrated by foreign countries and terrorist elements,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office explained.

Netanyahu said Israel’s electronic networks are under permanent threat. In 2008, the Bank of Israel’s website was shut down and during the Turkish flotilla incident hackers attacked Israeli internet sites, including the Tel Aviv municipality website.