Pröll's trip to Israel: Fighting anti-Semitism and digital threats!

Pröll's trip to Israel: Fighting anti-Semitism and digital threats!

On May 24, 2025, the State Secretary for Coordination and Digitalization, Alexander Pröll, will be the first member of the new Austrian government to travel to Israel. This trip is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and intensifying the fight against anti-Semitism. Austria sees Israel as a central partner in the areas of digitalization, cybersecurity and combating anti-Semitism. Pröll will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and has a number of important visits and meetings planned.

A central element of his trip is visiting places heavily affected by Hamas' terrorist attacks, particularly Kibbutz Beéri and the Nova Festival Memorial, where a massacre took place on October 7, 2023. That day, Hamas launched a surprise invasion of Israel, claiming hundreds of hostages and leaving more than 1,160 Israelis dead. The conflict triggered a wave of violence that also claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip. These tragic events have had a profound impact on the relationship and cooperation between Austria and Israel.

Digital initiatives and collaboration

In addition to visiting historical sites, Pröll will attend a ceremony at the Austrian Embassy to hand over new dual citizenships to subsequent generations of Austrian Holocaust survivors. This is a further step in correcting historical injustices and strengthening cultural ties between Austria and Israel.

An important goal of Pröll's trip is a visit to the Beer Sheva High Tech Park, where he gains insights into innovative approaches to digitalization and cybersecurity. This exchange is of great importance given the evolving threats of cybercrime and the use of hybrid warfare as experimented by Hamas and its supporters, particularly Iranian-aligned cyber actors. Cyber ​​operations that began with Hamas' invasion of Israel aim to undermine public support for Israel and destabilize the country's institutions.

The challenge of cyber warfare

Following the October 7, 2023 offensive, Iranian cyber actors launched a series of offensive attacks that included both opportunistic hack-and-leak attacks and targeted destruction of infrastructure. This phase of cyber warfare has spanned several months and shows increasing sophistication and tactics aimed at reducing both domestic and international support for Israel. These cyber operations target not only military systems, but also civilian infrastructure in the areas of finance, technology and defense.

Current developments suggest that future cyberattacks could have widespread international implications, including potential attacks on the US government and other international events, such as the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Given these threats, cooperation between Austria and Israel in the areas of cybersecurity and digital innovation processes is crucial.