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UK, Israel to extend cyber defence cooperation

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Minister for the Cabinet Office Matt Hancock announced that Britain and Israel will extend their cooperation over cyber defence, strengthening academic and real-time collaboration.

Hancock was this week leading a delegation to Israel, accompanied by UK corporate executives plus experts in the cyber security field. He said that the Cyber Emergency Response Teams in Britain and the UK will work increasingly closely, while academics in the two countries will collaborate in the emerging area of cyber-physical security. Hancock commented, “The UK’s world-class companies and universities combined with Israel’s cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial culture is an unbeatable combination,” adding “I welcome this opportunity to forge ever-closer links in the field of cyber security with our Israeli partners.”

Britain and Israel already enjoy close working relations over cyber security. In 2014, a £1.2 million bilateral fund was announced enabling Israeli and British researchers to conduct joint projects in cyber defence. However, a spokesman for the UK Embassy in Tel Aviv said, “This upgraded cooperation will collectively increase the understanding of threats and mitigation.”

Meanwhile, this week also saw the first ever cross-party delegation of peers to visit Israel. The All-Party Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group delegation comprised 11 Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and cross-bench peers. During their visit, they met Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, who welcomed them saying, “We greatly appreciate your coming … to engage with the realities on the ground in Israel and the region. These are difficult days and we all have a duty to work together to build understanding between all peoples.”

At the same time, a seven strong delegation of new Conservative MPs visited Israel under the auspices of the Conservative Friends of Israel. The group met with Supreme Court justices and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid. They also met veteran Palestinian Authority negotiator Nabil Shaath and other Palestinian officials in Ramallah, in a session which the Times of Israel described as “hostile.” John Howell MP concluded “It’s difficult to see that these people could be a basis for negotiation.”