Israel smuggled internet receivers into Iran to assist protesters – Former PM

A former Israeli prime minister acknowledged on Tuesday that Israel had smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to help anti-government protesters.

Naftali Bennett, who served as prime minister from 2021 to 2022, told an audience at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem that he had initiated the process of acquiring and smuggling Starlink internet receivers into Iran.

Tens of thousands of Starlink receivers were smuggled to maintain ⁠continuity of the internet and social networks in Iran.

He added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government failed to follow through on the plans.

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX (SPCX.O), opens a new tab and 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.”

Iranian authorities have shut down the public’s access to the internet during periods of unrest, including during deadly nationwide ⁠protests in January and throughout the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that began at the end of February.

Bennett, one of several opposition politicians vying to replace Netanyahu in an election due by October, said that if he returned ⁠to office, he would work to undermine Iran’s government to topple it.

That could include measures short of direct military attacks, such as economic and industrial sabotage, he said.
Reuters/NAN