Israel's Digital Government Lagging Despite Tech Prowess
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Only 400 out of Israel's approximately 4,700 government services are digitally available, a gap highlighted at the Israel IT Conference 2026. Nati Cohen, Head of the National Digital Directorate, stated that a major reform, incorporating AI, aims to transform citizen-state interactions. The defense sector is also accelerating digital and AI integration for wartime needs, including soldier support and procurement, while companies like Rafael and Elbit Systems adapt to high demand and evolving threats. The conference emphasized the significant work ahead for public institutions to match the country's tech prowess in citizen services.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Only 400 of Israel's 4,700 government services are digitally available, less than 9%.
- Israel's National Digital Directorate plans a major reform using AI to improve citizen services.
- The defense sector is rapidly integrating AI for soldier support, exports, and procurement.
- Companies like Rafael and Elbit Systems are adapting to wartime demands and evolving threats.
- The Israel IT Conference 2026 highlighted the gap between public sector digitization and national tech capabilities.
Despite Israel's global reputation as a technological powerhouse, a significant gap exists between its advanced capabilities and the digital accessibility of its government services. Out of approximately 4,700 potential government services that could be digitized, only about 400 are currently available online, according to Nati Cohen, Head of the National Digital Directorate. This stark reality was highlighted at the Israel IT Conference 2026 in Tel Aviv, revealing that less than 9% of government services are digitally accessible.
Cohen explained that the goal is not merely to put paper forms online but to fundamentally transform citizen-state interaction. A key initiative involves using artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline processes and create a more integrated experience, exemplified by a system developed during wartime to manage aid for affected citizens, consolidating various stages of support into a single platform.
In contrast, the defense sector faces different digital challenges, driven by the ongoing war. Gil Ben-Ami, Head of the Digital Division of the Ministry of Defense, identified critical areas for technological advancement: rehabilitation and support for wounded soldiers and families of the fallen, boosting defense exports amidst a global arms race, and accelerating defense procurement processes. He also acknowledged the necessity and complexity of transitioning defense systems to cloud infrastructure.
Companies like Rafael and Elbit Systems are adapting to wartime demands. Moshe Levy, Director of IT at Rafael, stated the company operates 24/7 to produce advanced systems, having accelerated production and integrated AI across various departments. Alon Barak of Elbit Systems noted the challenge of maintaining decades-old military equipment against rapidly evolving threats and meeting diverse international data handling requirements.
Discussions also focused on AI's potential to automate complex tasks, with Omer Peretz of Wonderful suggesting efficiency should be measured by time and cost reduction, not just implementation. He cited AI's ability to resolve issues like modem malfunctions or long wait times for medical appointments. Ido Roman from Israel Aerospace Industries confirmed the necessity of integrating AI into secure systems, balancing modern capabilities with stringent security protocols.
The Israel IT Conference 2026, attended by around 3,000 professionals, underscored the vast amount of work remaining for government institutions to align their digital services with Israel's technological achievements, especially compared to the rapid AI adoption in the defense industry.