Israel has selected seven teens from the country’s periphery to take part in an international cybersecurity program with peers from Greece and Cyprus, as part of a new initiative launched in memory of Sgt. Uri Nehemia Ashkenazi, who fell in Rafah during the Israel-Hamas war.
The program is being conducted in partnership with the national cyber authorities of Greece (NCSA) and Cyprus (DSA) respectively.
The new program is selective, with the seven chosen from hundreds of candidates who underwent rigorous evaluations.
It will be taught by CyberProAI Israel, a leading Israeli cybersecurity artificial intelligence company.
Participants will receive fully funded professional cybersecurity training for six months, including the opportunity to travel to Greece and Cyprus for educational visits, at an estimated cost of NIS 300,000, which the Labor Ministry will fully subsidize.
The training will include developing advanced technical capabilities for detecting and analyzing complex cyber threats, with real, hands-on experience in advanced simulation environments.
It will also include "hands-on experience in advanced simulation environments such as Cympire and Bina, innovative platforms that simulate real-world cyberattack scenarios and enable AI-based learning," the initiative confirmed.
"The program also emphasizes developing soft skills required in the international high-tech world, global teamwork, conflict management in changing environments, cross-cultural communication, and strategic partnerships."
“I entered the world of youth with a genuine mission: to open new opportunities for young people, to provide them access to learning, technology, and tools for integration into the changing work environment,” Revital Ashkenazi, mother of Ori, and director of the "Youth Employment Initiative" program at the Labor Ministry said, describing the program.
“My connection to this program was natural because of my son, who spoke all his life about diplomacy, about dialogue, and about the possibility of resolving conflicts through understanding rather than force,” she added.
"Even when he was a combat soldier, he believed we must continue to talk, cooperate, and build a shared future. That's exactly the spirit of this program, to teach youth from different countries to speak the language of connection, partnership, and hope. This is my way of continuing Uri's path, a path of faith in people, hope, and peace," she concluded.
The importance of the program for Israel's defense
The Director-General of the Regional Cooperation Ministry, Gilad Shadmon, emphasized the program's importance.
“In an era when Israel faces cyberattacks from Iran and other hostile actors on a daily basis, it's important to remember that our true strength lies in our people,” Shadmon said.
“Youth from Israel's social and geographic periphery are not only the future generation of the workforce, they are Israel's new digital defense line.”
"Our ministry's main asset is the ability to create genuine international connections for these youth and enable them to become knowledge ambassadors to regional countries, especially when it comes to our cooperation with the Ministry of Labor. This cohort, dedicated to Uri's memory, symbolizes exactly that, the ability to transform personal pain into regional hope and build a stronger, more secure future for all of us," he concluded.
"When it comes to employment, partnerships are essential for achieving goals, which is why I'm proud of this cybersecurity program,” Acting Director-General of the Labor Ministry, Amir Medina, said.
“The Labor Ministry is leading innovative initiatives aimed at providing diverse populations, including youth in the periphery, with opportunities to participate in sought-after training programs and integrate into quality employment,” they added.
"This isn't just about technological training, it's a first-rate diplomatic move. This is how we build partnerships, together with valued partners who help create an innovative and advanced work environment," they concluded.