What's behind Elon Musk's visit to Israel, meeting with Netanyahu?

Jack Dutton , Rina Bassist

Nov 27, 2023

In this handout image provided by the GPO, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) takes Elon Musk (L) on a tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza after the Oct. 7 massacre took place there, on Nov. 27, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel. — Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)/Handout via Getty Images

During a visit to Israel on Monday, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk toured the site of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel and said he’d like to help rebuild Gaza after the war.

Hosting a live chat on X with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk said, "Those who are intent on murder must be neutralized, then the propaganda must stop — that is [stopping] training people to be murderers in the future, and then, making Gaza prosperous. If that happens, I think there will be a good future." Netanyahu responded to this statement by saying, "I hope you will be involved in it," to which Musk responded, "I’d like to help."

Musk in Israel — why now?

Judging by his different meetings and statements, Musk's visit focused on two topics: showing solidarity with Israel after the Oct. 7 attack, and expressing his commitment to fight online antisemitism against the backdrop of accusations on different occasions that he was tolerating or even supporting antisemitic-toned remarks or far-right/hate expressions on X.