Synopsis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Elon Musk against accusations surrounding a gesture at Trump's inauguration, which critics termed a Nazi salute. Netanyahu emphasized Musk's unwavering support for Israel, particularly following the October 7 Hamas attack. Musk has dismissed the criticism, and others, including Argentina's President Milei, have also come to his defense.Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu labels Musk's criticism as unjust.
- Musk has consistently supported Israel's right to defend itself.
- His gesture at the inauguration drew scrutiny.
- Musk's recent visit to Israel followed the October 7 attack.
- Others have defended Musk against accusations of anti-Semitism.
Jerusalem, Jan 24 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is being unjustly criticized regarding a gesture he made during Donald Trump's inauguration, which some have labeled a Nazi salute.
"Elon is a valuable ally of Israel," Netanyahu declared on Thursday via the social media platform X, owned by Musk.
The billionaire, who has been entrusted by Trump to cut US government expenditures, has consistently and emphatically backed Israel's right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes that aim to eradicate the sole Jewish state, Netanyahu further emphasized.
He referenced Musk's visit to Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which came after a separate incident where Musk faced accusations of anti-Semitism.
During that time, Musk had endorsed a post that claimed Jewish individuals harbored "hatred against whites," referring to it as "the actual truth." He later issued an apology.
Since Musk's takeover of the social media platform in 2022, it has been criticized for propagating anti-Semitic and other racist content.
During the November 2023 visit, Musk toured a kibbutz that had been targeted by Hamas alongside Netanyahu and met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who indicated that Musk had "a significant role to play" in fighting anti-Semitism.
Musk himself has already dismissed the backlash regarding his inauguration gesture, stating on X: "Honestly, they need more effective dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' narrative is so overused."
Musk raised his right arm towards his chest and then extended it towards the audience at a rally after President Donald Trump took office on Monday, prompting scrutiny as the gesture resembles the Nazi or Roman salute historically employed by fascist leaders in Germany and Italy.
Amid ongoing debates, Netanyahu defended Musk, a crucial partner of Trump.
"Elon is a valuable ally of Israel. He visited Israel following the October 7 massacre, the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, committed by Hamas terrorists. He has since consistently and emphatically supported Israel's right to defend itself against those who seek to destroy the only Jewish state," Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday via X.
Musk responded to Netanyahu's statement with a "thank you."
Javier Milei, Argentina’s libertarian-minded president and self-proclaimed "anarcho-capitalist," also came to Musk's aid.
While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Milei, who attended Trump's inauguration, expressed that his "dear friend Musk" has been "unfairly targeted by woke culture for a harmless gesture that merely showcases his enthusiasm and gratitude toward the people."
