In an attempt to address the escalating controversy surrounding his endorsement of an antisemitic tweet, Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and representatives of families affected by the hostage situation in Gaza, as per a report by Bloomberg.
The meeting, which will be held behind closed doors will focus on the pressing need to combat online antisemitism, according to a spokesperson from the president’s office. The meeting is supposed to take place on Monday, November 27.
Musk, who has faced accusations of amplifying anti-Jewish sentiments through his actions on X, has denied being racist and defended his views. The tweet endorsement drew condemnation from the White House and rights activists.
The backlash coincided with a Media Matters report highlighting alleged pro-Nazi content on the platform, prompting an advertiser exodus, including IBM Corp. and Apple Inc. Musk has taken legal action against the liberal watchdog group.
While Musk’s visit to Israel aims to address the antisemitism issue, it remains uncertain whether he plans to discuss other matters.
Israel is currently in conflict with Hamas following an October 7 attack that resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of around 240 hostages. The region is currently observing a four-day ceasefire to facilitate the release of hostages.
Despite receiving support from figures like hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, Musk continues to face criticism, with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offering careful criticism that falls short of the more forceful condemnation expressed by US President Joe Biden.
The controversy centres around a post on X that falsely claimed Jewish people are fueling hatred against White people. Musk responded by asserting that the tweet conveyed “the actual truth.”
The situation has contributed to heightened tensions, with tens of thousands participating in a march against antisemitism in central London on Sunday. The Israel-Hamas conflict has further strained community relations and resulted in an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes.
(With inputs from agencies)
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