Germany is aiming to establish a joint German-Israeli cyber research center and deepen collaboration between the two countries’ intelligence and security agencies, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Sunday.
Germany is among Israel’s closest allies in Europe, and Berlin has increasingly looked to draw upon Israel’s defense expertise as it boosts its military capabilities and contributions to NATO in the face of perceived growing threats from Russia and China.
“Military defense alone is not sufficient for this turning point in security. A significant upgrade in civil defense is also essential to strengthen our overall defensive capabilities,” Dobrindt said during a visit to Israel, as reported by Germany’s Bild newspaper.
Dobrindt, who was appointed by new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last month, arrived in Israel on Saturday. On Sunday, Dobrindt visited the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam where nine people, including three children, were killed and hundreds wounded overnight on June 14-15.
“We must deepen our support for Israel,” said Dobrindt, standing amid the rubble with Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, in the first visit by a senior foreign official since the Israel-Iran war ended.
Bild said Germany’s decision to expand cyber cooperation with Israel was due at least in part to the role Israeli cyber capabilities played in thwarting larger Iranian attacks during the 12-day war that ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday.
According to the Bild report, Dobrindt has outlined a five-point plan aimed at establishing what he called a “Cyber Dome” for Germany, as part of its cyber-defense strategy.
The plan reportedly calls for establishing a joint German-Israel cyber research center; strengthening cooperation on cyber defense; increasing cooperation between Mossad and its German counterpart, the BND; expanding Germany’s anti-drone defenses; and developing a system of civil shelters and emergency warnings like that used in Israel during the Iran war.
Earlier on Sunday, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder also called for the acquisition of 2,000 interceptor missiles to equip Germany with an “Iron Dome” system similar to Israel’s short-range missile defense technology.
Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones at Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program, missile production and leadership. The Iranian attacks killed 28 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel, according to health officials and hospitals.
Israel said its operation in Iran was necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from realizing its avowed goal to destroy the Jewish state.
While Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons, it enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. Israel said Iran had recently taken steps toward weaponization.
Speaking in Bat Yam, Dobrindt said Israel has “our support in destroying Iran’s nuclear program” and that “if Iran had the atom bomb, it would use it against Israel,” according to Bild.
Lazar Berman contributed to this report.