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

On a visit to Israel, American billionaire Elon Musk called for a halt to the hate propaganda that he said enabled the Oct. 7 attack and also expressed willingness to help reconstruct Gaza.

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.
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. 

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