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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Israel smuggled [‘tens of thousands’] Starlink systems into Iran, former PM says

2026-06-23

[Reuters] A former Israeli prime minister acknowledged on Tuesday that Israel had smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters, though he said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ‌government failed to follow through on the plans.

Naftali Bennett,

… on paper this Bibi protege is the next gen. Bibi. In reality he somehow wasn’t hard or wily enough to make it work, the only time he was elected to the spot…

who served as prime minister in 2021 to 2022, told an audience at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem that he had initiated a "process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow ⁠continuity of the internet and social networks".

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX (SPCX.O), opens new tab, provides satellite internet connections. Iran has previously accused Israel and the United States of smuggling in the devices to undermine its security. Starlink is not licensed to operate in Iran but Musk has previously said the service is active there.

Bennett said the devices were intended to enable protesters to coordinate and ultimately topple the Iranian government.

"Unfortunately, the current incompetent Israeli government stopped doing that," he said. "And when the protest ‌happened, ⁠that infrastructure was not there."

Posted by:Skidmark

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