Former Israeli premier claims operation aimed to keep Iranians online during unrest and weaken Tehran’s control
Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel had smuggled tens of thousands of Starlink internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters stay connected during periods of unrest.
Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Bennett said he launched the effort while in office to ensure internet and social media access remained available if Iranian authorities shut down communications. According to him, the plan was designed to help demonstrators coordinate, maintain contact and potentially challenge the Iranian government more effectively.
Bennett claimed the operation involved acquiring and covertly moving large numbers of Starlink devices into Iran, where the satellite internet service is not officially licensed. He argued that the equipment could have provided critical communications infrastructure during anti-government protests and wider unrest.
Bennett accuses Netanyahu government of halting the project
Bennett said the initiative did not continue after he left office, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for stopping the effort before it could be fully implemented.
He said the interruption left protesters without the support network that had been planned for future demonstrations. “When the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there,” Bennett told the audience, criticising what he described as the current government’s failure to follow through.
Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment on Bennett’s remarks, while SpaceX, the company owned by Elon Musk that operates Starlink, was not available for comment outside US business hours.
Internet blackouts remain a key tool during unrest in Iran
Iranian authorities have repeatedly restricted public internet access during major protests and periods of instability, including during deadly unrest earlier this year and throughout the US-Israeli war with Iran that began in late February. Reports have previously indicated that some Iranians turned to Starlink during such blackouts.
Bennett, who now leads a right-wing opposition party ahead of elections due by October, also said that if he returns to power, he would pursue broader efforts to weaken Iran’s government. He suggested those measures could include economic and industrial sabotage, alongside other actions short of direct military strikes.
