| Activities of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau |
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The Counter-Terrorism Bureau has, since its establishment, been actively involved in a variety of classified issues. Following is a short review of the Division's disclose-able activities:
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| Travel Warnings |
The series of terror attack in Sinai has raised the priority of the issue of travel warnings, because despite the explicit warning to Israelis not to travel to Sinai, Israelis were among the victims of the murderous attacks. In order to draw conclusions and implement them, staff work was executed in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Tourism, Mossad Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks, General Security Services and other bodies. Work included issues related to intelligence, legal issues and provision of information. The NSC's recommendations were presented to the Government in December 2005, and were for the most part approved.
Following are some of the recommendations:
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As is accepted in all the countries that publish travel warnings, these advisories are only recommendations.
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Travel warnings will be updated periodically.
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A scale of four levels of travel warnings will be established.
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Current status of activities:
The ministerial committee from October 2007 decided that formulizing and publishing travel warnings to Israelis in regard to terror threats abroad will be the responsibility of the counter terrorism bureau.
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| Border Crossings – Operation and Security |
In 1999, the Government approved a resolution dealing with securing of border crossings. Since that time, there have been numerous changes in the security arena, such as 9/11 attacks, the decision to build the security barrier, implementation of the disengagement plan and more. The Counter-Terrorism Bureau presented to the Ministers' Committee for National Security Issues its recommendations regarding the revision of the Government resolution in order to adjust it to the changing defense policies.
The recommendations included two stages:
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Government resolution 43/b that regulated the spheres of responsibility between the various bodies in the short term.
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Examination the possibility and need to establish a different authority for operating land crossings.
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Current status of activities:
The Government approved the recommendations for stage A as is, and will soon deliberate regarding stage B.
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| Securing Computer Based Systems |
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In continuation to resolution 84/b by the Ministers' Committee for National Security, a committee headed by the head of the NSC was established to consolidate inclusive steps to protect the State of Israel's vital computer systems. The committee operates in a steering capacity, directing the national unit for computerized infrastructure security that operates as part of the General Security Services. The committee meets frequently, and approves threats, installations that must be required to implement security steps and the principled of the security approach.
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| The Committee for Technological Defense against Terror |
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The State of Israel has been exposed, throughout its existence, to different threats and dangers of terror. The development of international terror, its expansion and its connection to Israel increases even further the threat to the country’s civilians, institutions and infrastructure.
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State of the art technology, a high level of security and operational experience are significant tools in Israel’s fight against terror. The Committee for Technological Defense against Terror was established in order to utilize to the utmost Israel’s technological abilities in the field of fighting against terror. The committee is part of the NSC (the Counter-Terrorism Bureau( and its members are very experienced in the technological, academic fields as well as in research and defense.
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The committee’s uniqueness is expressed in the chance it gives to private companies, even those that are unknown, to suggest ideas and new technological solutions against terror.
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| The committee’s roles |
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Recommendation of priorities in technological developments and operational-technological applications.
The recommendation is based on the threat, the gap between the threat and the solution and technological readiness.
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Definition of national needs.
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Application to the appropriate bodies to receive offers to respond to national needs.
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Examination of offers from different bodies and decisions about budgeting for initiatives and suggestions for development from a national perspective.
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Follow-up and control of budget investments and project outcomes.
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Counter – Terrorism Bureau
Travel Warnings
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