Israeli hackers are scoffing at Anonymous' threat to attack Israeli websites and online accounts. PHOTO: Gulf News

Israeli hackers have shrugged off a threat from the hacker collective Anonymous to attack and seize control of Israeli websites and shut them down on Tuesday, as well as to hack into Facebook and e-mail accounts.

Anonymous, which is comprised of many Arab hackers, has previously uploaded videos on multiple occasions with messages threatening to punish Israel for its activities in the Palestinian territories.

While many site owners have taken the threats seriously, they have elicited no excitement at all among Israel’s hackers.

One of Israel’s most prominent hackers, known as FTS, told Israel’s 0404 News that, “It’s always good to be cautious, but there’s no need to fear more than is necessary. We’re talking about amateurs, that love to threaten, but can’t carry out the work. They work mainly with robots on SQL, but they won’t succeed in attacking like they’re planning. Just like with every one of their attacks they’ll succeed in hacking a few sites with easy security, which can by done by any amateur.”

Another prominent hacker, known as Mem, said that “there is nothing to fear from the Anonymous attack tomorrow. This will end without anything happening. A light attack here or there, and that’s it. They don’t have any serious capabilities.”