Elon Musk, who’s been underneath fireplace over accusations of antisemitism flourishing on his social media platform X, paid a go to Monday to Israel, the place he toured a kibbutz that was attacked final month by Hamas militants and was set to satisfy with prime leaders.
The billionaire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Kfar Azza kibbutz, a rural village that Hamas militants stormed on Oct 7 in a lethal assault that launched the warfare.
Musk, carrying a protecting vest and escorted by a phalanx of safety personnel as rain fell, used his cellphone to take images or movies of the devastation, in line with video launched by Netanyahu’s workplace.
The Tesla CEO and prime minister visited the properties of some victims, together with the household of Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old woman with twin Israeli-US citizenship who was held hostage by Hamas after her mother and father had been killed. She was launched Sunday within the newest spherical of exchanges throughout a cease-fire in Gaza that’s set to run out after Monday.
It was jarring to see the scene of the bloodbath, Musk later mentioned in an X Areas dialog with Netanyahu. Musk mentioned he was troubled by video and images that the prime minister confirmed him of the killings of civilians, together with youngsters.
They spoke broadly concerning the battle, the protests it has generated, Hamas, the Center East and extra however didn’t contact on antisemitism on-line. Netanyahu mentioned he hoped Musk could be concerned in constructing a greater future, to which the billionaire replied, I would love to assist.
Musk additionally was because of meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Benny Gantz, a former defence minister who’s now a part of a particular warfare Cupboard.
Authorities spokesperson Eylon Levy declined to say whether or not Musk was invited or got here on his personal. X, previously referred to as Twitter, didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, tweeted earlier Monday a couple of deal that his ministry had reached with Musk’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web firm.
Because of this important settlement, Starlink satellite tv for pc items can solely be operated in Israel with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, together with the Gaza Strip, Karhi wrote, with out offering additional particulars.
Musk has confronted accusations from the Anti-Defamation League, a outstanding Jewish civil rights organisation, and others of tolerating antisemitic messages on the platform since buying it final 12 months, and the content material on X has gained elevated scrutiny for the reason that warfare between Israel and Hamas started.
A slew of huge manufacturers, together with Disney and IBM, determined to cease promoting on the platform after a report by liberal advocacy group Media Issues mentioned advertisements had been showing alongside pro-Nazi content material and white nationalist posts.
It got here the identical week Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy concept that drew outcry, together with from the White Home.
Musk responded on X this month to a person who accused Jews of hating white folks and professing indifference to antisemitism by posting, You’ve gotten mentioned the precise fact.
X has since sued Media Issues, saying the Washington-based nonprofit manufactured the report back to drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp.
Monday’s go to shouldn’t be the primary time Musk and Netanyahu have met. Netanyahu got here to California in September, telling the Tesla CEO that he hopes Musk can discover a solution to roll again antisemitism and different types of hatred inside the limits of the First Modification.
