Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with entrepreneur Elon Musk in California to discuss boosting AI technology and investment in Israel, according to sources from The Jerusalem Post. Netanyahu intends to ask Musk, the owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), to consider investing in Israel during their meeting, which has been scheduled for weeks and will primarily focus on artificial intelligence technology. Netanyahu also plans to strengthen relations with executives in the high-tech sector, a vital driver of the Israeli economy. The prime minister will also hold meetings with leaders in the field of artificial intelligence.
Netanyahu’s visit to the United States is scheduled to begin in California, where he will meet with Musk. He will then head to New York to address the opening high-level session of the 78th United Nations General Assembly. During his time in New York, Netanyahu is expected to have a face-to-face conversation with US President Joe Biden, which will be their first since taking office. However, the meeting has not yet been confirmed by the White House.
In addition to meeting with President Biden, Netanyahu will have discussions with various world leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He will also meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and engage with leaders of the Jewish community in the US during his visit.
Netanyahu’s trip to New York comes at a time of international concern, particularly in the US, regarding judicial reforms in Israel. Critics fear that these reforms may undermine Israeli democracy and pave the way for a more authoritarian rule. This backdrop makes Netanyahu’s meeting with Musk somewhat controversial, as the owner of X has faced criticism for permitting the dissemination of antisemitism on the platform.
Under Musk’s ownership, hate speech on X has significantly increased, prompting civil rights groups like the Center for Countering Digital Hate and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to express their concerns. These groups have documented a surge in antisemitic content on X since Musk’s takeover, along with a decrease in the moderation of such posts. The Center for Countering Digital Hate also highlighted a tripling in the daily use of racial slurs against Black individuals compared to the 2022 average, as well as a notable increase in slurs against gay men and trans individuals.
Musk recently attributed a 60% decline in US ad revenue on X to pressure from critics, specifically pointing to the ADL. In an exchange on X with users endorsing antisemitic viewpoints, Musk brought up the hashtag #BantheADL, which gained support from white nationalists and antisemites. The billionaire entrepreneur even questioned whether he should poll the platform on the matter.
