Elon Musk Engages with Israeli Officials, addresses Anti-Semitism criticism during visit to Israel
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and owner of the X social network, held discussions with top Israeli officials during his visit to the country.
His visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border, followed an assault by Hamas on October 7th that resulted in a mass casualty incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Musk in a special ceremony, where Musk also met with local leaders and representatives of the Israel Defense Forces. Musk expressed support for Israel's actions against Hamas, acknowledging civilian casualties as "inevitable" during the war.
During a live show on the X channel with Netanyahu, Musk endorsed the destruction of Hamas and emphasized Israel's efforts to avoid harming civilians. Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, discussed concerns about anti-Semitism on the "X" social network with Musk, urging him to play a role in addressing the issue.
Musk had faced criticism for reposting content perceived as anti-Semitic, leading to major companies withdrawing ads from X.
The White House condemned Musk, prompting him to vow a "thermonuclear lawsuit." Musk clarified his stance against anti-Semitism and anything promoting hatred and conflict.
In the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Musk proposed offering Starlink access in Gaza for international relief organizations.
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karehi criticized the proposal, expressing concerns about potential misuse by Hamas.
Musk stated that Starlink activation in the region would depend on security coordination with Israel and the United States.
The Minister of Communications of Israel hopes Musk's visit will foster future efforts and improve relations with the Jewish community.
