Benjamin Telem (Hebrew: בנימין תלם) (1928 – 16 June 2008) was the 9th Commander of the Israeli Navy (1972–1976).

[1] Born Benjamin Blumenthal in Dessau, Germany, in 1928, Telem immigrated to Haifa, during the Mandate era, as a child in 1933.

In 1956, during the Suez Crisis, Telem served as head of branch operations of the Navy, and shortly after the war, in 1957, was appointed commander of the destroyer Yaffo, a position he held for two years.

Contrary to the opinion of others in the IDF intelligence, Telem insisted on preparing for the war, the outbreak of which came as a surprise to most in the Israeli establishment.

Then-Defense Minister Shimon Peres appointed Telem special assistant to the ambassador to South Africa, where he conducted several weapons deals.