Israel President Calls on Elon Musk to Take Stand Against Anti-Semitism

Israel’s President Urges Elon Musk to Combat Anti-Semitism

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, met with Elon Musk on Monday and emphasized the tech mogul’s significant role in combating anti-Semitism, which has been accused of spreading through his social media platform. Musk’s visit to a kibbutz community that was devastated by Hamas attacks on October 7 prompted the meeting, where he also met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defense officials.

Since Musk took over X, formerly known as Twitter, in October 2022, he has faced criticism for allowing hate speech to proliferate on the platform. The White House has accused him of promoting anti-Semitism by endorsing a conspiracy theory that accuses Jews of weakening white majorities.

President Herzog expressed his concerns to Musk, stating, “Unfortunately, we are inundated by anti-Semitism, which is Jew hatred. You have a huge role to play. And I think we need to fight it together because on the platforms which you lead, unfortunately, there’s a harbouring of a lot of… anti-Semitism.”

In his video remarks released by Herzog’s office, Musk did not mention anti-Semitism but did highlight that Hamas militants have been exposed to propaganda since childhood. On October 7, Hamas militants breached Gaza’s militarized border into southern Israel, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 240 hostages. Israel responded by launching a relentless bombardment of targets in Gaza, alongside a ground invasion, causing the Hamas government to claim nearly 15,000 deaths.

Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu and Musk discussed the “security aspects of artificial intelligence” with senior defense officials. They also spoke on X after visiting Kfar Aza, one of the communities attacked by Hamas. Netanyahu expressed the need to demilitarize Gaza after Hamas’s destruction and called for efforts to deradicalize the Palestinian territory. He also expressed hope for the resumption of United States-mediated normalization talks with Saudi Arabia and expanding the circle of peace.

Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi announced that the country had reached an understanding with Musk’s company SpaceX on the use of Starlink satellites in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Starlink is a network of satellites that can provide internet connectivity to remote locations or areas with disabled communications infrastructure.

This meeting between President Herzog and Elon Musk highlights the urgency to address and combat the spread of anti-Semitism, particularly on social media platforms. Both leaders acknowledge the need for collective efforts to fight this hatred and work towards a more inclusive and peaceful society.