Elon Musk told an Israeli government-hosted tech summit on 18 May 2026 that Israel is 'by far number one in the world' in innovation per capita, calling the claim objectively true at a moment when the country remains at war in Gaza and faces mounting international scrutiny.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive made the remarks virtually during the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit at Expo Tel Aviv, an event hosted by Israel's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety and attended by business leaders, academics and government officials from more than 25 countries. Musk had originally been scheduled to appear in person as the guest of honour, but the conference was postponed from its March date following Israel's military operation against Iran, and he ultimately joined via video link from Texas.
