Netanyahu Urges Elon Musk to Take Action against Antisemitism and Promote Unity on X

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and owner of the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), to take action against antisemitism and hatred on the platform.

In a public conversation aired on X, Netanyahu acknowledged Musk’s commitment to free speech and his opposition to antisemitism. Netanyahu emphasized the importance of combating all forms of collective hatred, including antisemitism, within the confines of the First Amendment, and urged Musk to find a balance in moderating such content.

Musk, who describes himself as a “free-speech absolutist,” has faced criticism from groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for not doing enough to address antisemitic rhetoric on X. In a report published by the ADL in May, over 5,000 instances of “virulent antisemitism” were found on the platform from accounts that were reinstated, leading to the conclusion that X’s content moderation policies were inadequate.

In response, Musk accused the ADL of trying to undermine and falsely accuse him and X of antisemitism. He even threatened legal action against the organization. Musk also attributed a decline in X’s revenue to the ADL, though experts argue that changes made by Musk, such as rebranding the platform and implementing job cuts, were primarily responsible for the decline.

During the conversation with Netanyahu, Musk stated his opposition to attacking any group and expressed his support for initiatives that contribute to civilization and the advancement of space exploration. Musk emphasized his stance against antisemitism and any form of hate or conflict that hinders progress and unity.