Germany and Israel are expanding their security cooperation to increase protection against attacks on infrastructure and other threats, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said during a visit to Israel on Sunday.
Dobrindt also signed a cyber and security pact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outlining closer cooperation between the two countries’ security authorities and deeper collaboration in cyber defence, artificial intelligence and counter-drone measures.
He said Germany wanted to draw on Israel’s experience and technologies and that there were ever more potential groups that could attack infrastructure facilities.
Infrastructure security has become a renewed point of concern in Germany after tens of thousands of people in parts of Berlin were left without electricity, heating and mobile phone signal for days earlier this month after a power cable was targeted in an arson attack.
However Germany’s deeper security partnership comes as Israel’s military methods have been under close international scrutiny in the wake of two years of attacks on Gaza killing tens of thousands.
Rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of using its defence technology to carry out war crimes on Palestinian populations, an accusation it denies.
Netanyahu said cyberattacks were also among the biggest threats to internal security. He said the “comprehensive security partnership” between Germany and Israel concerned counterterrorism as well, and that Iran and its allies Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis threatened not only Israel but also regional stability and international security.
Germany has long tied its own state security to that of Israel, and has remained the country’s biggest military backer after the United States throughout Israel’s widespread bombardment of Gaza.