Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has praised West Jerusalem's digital prowess

Germany should look to Israel as a model for countering online threats, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Sunday, calling for the creation of a "cyber dome."

Dobrindt made the statement after a visit to Israel on Saturday, just days after the conclusion of the country's 12-day military conflict with Iran. In an interview with the German tabloid Bild, Dobrindt praised Israel's civil defense infrastructure and urged his country to adopt similar approaches to modern threats.

"We will work closely with Israel on this. Germany needs a cyber dome - a powerful, digital shield against espionage, sabotage, and to protect critical infrastructure such as energy and communications companies," he said.

Dobrindt did not provide specifics. His use of the term "cyber dome" appeared to reference Israel's Iron Dome short-range missile defense system.

Earlier this month, Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) reported record levels of cybercrime in 2024, documenting over 131,000 cases. The agency specifically blamed pro-Russian and anti-Israeli hacktivist groups for a surge in denial-of-service operations targeting government agencies and private businesses.

Germany's new government, which took office in May, has backed Israel in its recent conflict with Iran. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said West Jerusalem was doing "dirty work for us" by launching strikes in order to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
The confrontation between Israel and Iran involved long-range strikes between the two nations. According to West Jerusalem, the conflict has resulted in an estimated $3 billion in direct damages to the country. Tehran has accused the Jewish State of committing an act of international aggression and said it was acting in self-defense by retaliating.

Last week, Merz's government approved a proposed budget that includes substantial new public debt in order to sharply increase defense spending, which is set to double by 2029. Berlin has argued the investment is necessary to guard against a potential Russian attack on NATO. Moscow, however, has dismissed the scenario as implausible and accused Western governments of using fear tactics to rationalize deteriorating living conditions for their citizens.