Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett's phone breached, security probes Iranian hacker involvement

While ex-PM Naftali Bennett claims his phone was not breached, he confirmed his Telegram was accessed and blamed Israel's enemies.

Israeli security officials are investigating how the high-profile phone contacts, photos and messages belonging to former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett leaked online.

Some contents of the phone list, photos and chats that were shared online were real, Bennett said, adding that some were fake. (AP file photo)

Israeli media reported on Wednesday that a mobile phone belonging to Bennett, or to someone close to him, had been breached by Iranian hackers. A list of Bennett’s phone contacts circulating on the web appeared to include numbers of technology executives like OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, celebrities, diplomats and business leaders.

Bennett, in a statement released by his office, said his phone hadn’t been hacked, but his Telegram account was accessed through “various ways.” The politician suggested the leak was the work of “Israel’s enemies” who didn’t want to accept him as a leader, without specifying Iran.

Some contents of the phone list, photos and chats that were shared online were real, Bennett said, adding that some were fake. He said Israel’s security officials were looking into the issue.