Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has recently faced criticism for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory on his social media platform X, visited Israel where he toured a kibbutz attacked by Hamas militants and held talks with top leaders. The visit, documented by video released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, showed Musk, wearing a protective vest, examining the aftermath of the Hamas assault on the Kfar Azza kibbutz.
During the visit, Musk met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who expressed concern over content on X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk also joined Prime Minister Netanyahu for a tour of damaged homes, including that of 4-year-old Abigail Edan, who was held hostage by Hamas after her parents were killed. Musk’s visit coincided with a ceasefire extension between Israel and Hamas.
In a conversation streamed on X, Musk expressed his distress over the scenes of civilian killings, including children, shown to him by Netanyahu. While they discussed the conflict, protests, and the Middle East, the topic of online antisemitism did not come up. President Herzog confronted Musk about the platform’s role in spreading hatred, to which Musk responded by acknowledging the emotional difficulty of the day and expressing a commitment to stopping hate.
Referring to Hamas militants, Musk highlighted the impact of misinformation on people’s minds. Musk has been accused of tolerating antisemitic messages on X, with major brands pulling advertising from the platform due to concerns about its content. Musk, a self-described free-speech absolutist, tweeted during his Israel visit that “actions speak louder than words.” X has sued Media Matters over a report on ads appearing alongside extremist content.
The visit also resolved a dispute between Musk and Israel over his Starlink satellite internet company, with an agreement that Starlink can operate in Gaza only with government approval. Source: The Associated Press
