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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a controversial statement, said:

“Do you have mobile phones? You are holding a piece of Israel in your hand. That’s because many phones originate from Israel.”



Netanyahu, during a meeting with a U.S. congressional delegation, praised Israel’s capabilities in pharmaceuticals, weapons, and phone manufacturing, warning Americans to recognize the benefits they derive from Israel.



Egyptian experts, however, did not see this statement merely as economic or diplomatic boasting, but rather as a serious strategic threat—one that could impact national security, cybersecurity, and international economic relations.



Dr. Mohammed Mohsen Ramadan, head of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity at the Arab Research and Studies Center in Egypt, stated that the remark indicates how deeply Israel has penetrated the global technological infrastructure. Politically, it reflects an attempt by Israel to establish its identity as a technological powerhouse indirectly influencing the lives of individuals and nations. Socially, it could instill public fear that everyday devices may be used for surveillance or control.



Dr. Ramadan explained that Israel is among the world’s major centers for producing electronic chips and microprocessors. If phones contain Israeli software or hardware, they could pose risks of programming or hardware backdoors—enabling surveillance of users, data extraction, or even disabling devices during crises.



Former Egyptian Deputy Minister of Interior, Mahmoud El-Rashidi, stressed that national security begins with safeguarding citizens’ data, and allowing foreign powers technical access poses internal security risks. He described Netanyahu’s statement as a veiled threat, signaling that Israel controls sensitive sectors.



El-Rashidi clarified that today, mobile phones are central to users’ digital identity—including bank accounts, contacts, photos, geolocation, and sensitive information. Any Israeli control over parts of this infrastructure could expose entire countries to cyberattacks.



He cited the example of pager device explosions in Lebanon as a practical demonstration of exploiting technological gaps as a weapon. According to him, nations dependent on Israeli technology risk becoming technological hostages during crises. If such control extends to communications, banking, or defense systems, the dangers multiply.



From an economic perspective, contrary to Netanyahu’s intent, his statement could backfire by reducing trust in Israeli technology among countries and corporations—negatively impacting demand for its products.



El-Rashidi recommended that countries should develop their own technological industries, audit the security of phones and communication devices, diversify import sources, and establish a joint Arab and regional digital infrastructure to reduce reliance on Israel or other foreign powers.