Renowned tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s arrival in Tel Aviv has set the stage for high-profile discussions on Monday. Israeli leaders plan to leverage the visit to draw Musk’s attention to the plight of hostages in war-torn Gaza and engage in conversations about the escalating issue of antisemitism online.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office announced Musk’s visit, indicating that he would meet with the head of state and reportedly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Musk’s office has not provided an immediate comment on the visit.
Avi Scharf, an aviation expert with Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, confirmed Musk’s arrival via a plane, posting the update on Musk’s media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).
This visit follows a previous meeting between Musk and Netanyahu in California on September 18. During that encounter, Netanyahu urged Musk to find a balance between protecting free expression and combating hate speech, particularly in the wake of controversies surrounding antisemitic content on Musk’s platform, X.
In response, Musk expressed his stance against antisemitism and any content promoting hate and conflict. He reiterated X’s commitment to not promote hate speech.
The discussions gain added significance against the backdrop of the escalating antisemitism and Islamophobia globally, including in the United States. These issues have been exacerbated during the ongoing seven-week war between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian faction, Hamas.
Currently under a truce, the parties are navigating the release of hostages taken by Hamas during a cross-border killing spree on October 7. In exchange, Israel has been freeing Palestinians held on security grounds. Musk’s visit holds potential implications for diplomatic engagement and addressing critical issues in the region.
