Israel’s cyber landscape is on the brink of a significant transformation as the country’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD) Chief Yossi Karadi warned of an impending cyber war driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the Cybertech Conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Karadi outlined a grim future where critical sectors such as energy, transportation, and telecommunications could be incapacitated by cyberattacks, posing direct threats to public safety and infrastructure.
Karadi’s projections for 2025 highlighted the alarming trend of escalating cyber incidents, with the INCD responding to over 26,000 serious cases—a 55% increase compared to the previous year. The financial sector, government institutions, and digital service providers emerged as the most targeted areas during this period. While many incidents were intercepted before causing damage, Karadi noted that others resulted in significant harm to organizations and their information assets.
The directorate’s chief posited a “doomsday scenario” in which the resilience of entire nations could be tested by coordinated cyber assaults. “The law aligns Israel with international standards and anchors cybersecurity as a national interest, rather than a voluntary decision by each organization,” Karadi stated, referring to the proposed Cyber Security Law, recently released for public consultation. This legislation aims to define national cyber defense and set security standards for essential organizations, establishing mechanisms for reporting and supervision of significant cyber incidents.
In conjunction with the proposed legislation, Karadi unveiled Israel’s new multi-year national cyber strategy. This plan focuses on three critical areas: cloud security, Cyber-AI, and preparation for the quantum era. The initiative emphasizes bolstering national infrastructure and enhancing detection and response capabilities, alongside the creation of national laboratories devoted to AI and deepfake technologies. According to Karadi, cooperation between the government and the burgeoning Israeli cyber industry is imperative for the nation’s preparedness against future threats.
“We cannot choose when the next war will break out—but we can choose to be ready,” he asserted, underscoring the role of Israel’s innovative cyber sector in fortifying national defenses. Recent developments include Israel’s strategic cybersecurity cooperation agreement with Germany and the launch of a Maritime Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in partnership with Greece and Cyprus.
Karadi’s assessment comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly following recent cyber warfare attempts attributed to Iran. He revealed that during the conflict with Iran in June, cyber weapons were deployed multiple times against Israeli citizens, with 1,200 instances of social engineering hacking operations impacting thousands of individuals.
Since taking over as INCD chief in March 2025, Karadi has emphasized the need for adaptive and innovative approaches to cybersecurity, highlighting the increasing complexity of threats posed by AI-driven attacks. As organizations worldwide grapple with similar challenges, Israel’s proactive strategies may serve as a model for other nations facing the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.
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