Israeli intelligence has have thwarted over 250 terrorist attacks since the beginning of the year, Shin Bet security agency Director Nadav Argaman told a group of visiting homeland and public security ministers Wednesday.
Speaking at the first Global Forum on Counterterrorism, Incitement and Cyber Threats in Jerusalem, Argaman said that using traditional and new big data abilities, the agency had succeeded in preventing major attacks, including suicide bombings, abduction and shootings.
Argaman's presentation was closed to the public, but the Shin Bet provided a summary to the media.
The Shin Bet chief said that newly implemented intelligence and big data abilities had helped the agency hone in on terrorist cells, especially would-be lone-wolf assailants in a way that was previously impossible.
He noted that the agency was striking the right balance between effective human intelligence gathering and new cyber intelligence gathering abilities.
Argaman said that since he took office in early 2016, the Shin Bet's technological workforce has jumped from single digits to representing around 25% of the agency's workforce.
He further stressed the importance of "strategic cooperation with our international partners in Israel and overseas as well as with the Israeli high-tech community and other civilian bodies."
