What do Elon Musk, whom Prime Minister Netanyahu visited recently in San Francisco, and Itzik Zarka, a vocal Likud activist, have in common? For the answer, read to the end of this piece.
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Let us begin with Musk, father of the electric car Tesla, Space X missiles, Neuralink which develops brain chips, and a leader of the world's rich list. Having been a prominent tweeter, he completed his purchase of Twitter about a year ago, and subsequently changed its name to X. Research indicates that since he took over, hate speech on the platform has spread. He does not take such comments lightly. In fact, he recently sued The Center for Encountering Digital Hate, a non-profit, for making what he insists are false claims.
He also continuously threatens to sue ADL, the Anti-Defamation League - he claims its statements have caused him financial loss. This ongoing confrontation reached a peak last week when more than 120 Jewish activists from across the political spectrum appealed to advertisers to halt their use of the platform, which they claim is a breeding ground for antisemitism and represents one of the largest dangers to Jews in years. Some of the signatories who oppose the ADL explained that they signed because Musk has used the organization as a stand-in for traditional representation of Jewish power.
In the throes of this lengthy saga, Netanyahu and his wife, who were on their way from Israel to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, went thousands of miles out of their way to meet Musk at Tesla headquarters on the West Coast.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara sit in a Tesla during a visit with Elon Musk
(Photo: GPO)
The merits of the visit were queried. A day or two earlier, Musk met with Turkish President Erdogan in New York. What do he and his country have to offer that the PM and the Start-Up Nation don't? Others criticized its appropriateness when Israeli hi-tech is troubled by the legal upheaval. But I will focus on what some viewed as his public siding with Musk, in the mogul's public confrontation with the ADL.
Visit viewed by some as siding with Musk against ADL
In the meeting, Netanyahu told Musk that he knows that his host supports free speech and opposes antisemitism. He expressed hope for balance, and that antisemitism on the platform would be reversed or halted. Musk explained that free speech entails having people one doesn't like say things one doesn’t like. He did not commit to change.
Free speech is a complicated issue. It encompasses the ability to seek, receive and distribute information and ideas. The principle has been formalized by countries and organizations, but at the same time, it has limits – one cannot shout "fire" in a crowded hall (unless there is one) or incite violence. Laws limiting free speech are not uniform. For example, holocaust denial is illegal in some countries, while elsewhere it is opposed, including by holocaust scholars.
They believe it is inefficient and fear the consequences of politicians deciding cannot be said. However, even without specific laws, countries and other bodies have tools to counter hate speech, including antisemitism. Take for example Kanye West, musician and fashionista. Praise of Hitler and self-defining as a Nazi led to the cancelation of giant contracts, including with Adidas. Senior Australians, where his partner's family lives, said that he might be barred, because of the "good character test" required for a visa.
Hailing the killing of 6 million Jews and wishing their descendents the same does not preclude membership in Likud
It seems that due to our sorry past, there is a tendency to treat incitement towards Jews with severity. But this is not the case everywhere, and now to Zarka. Several days after the Musk-Netanyahu meeting, the legal authority of the largest political party in the country of the nation which gave humanity the Ten Commandments (meaning, the Likud Court) determined that his statements, whereby he is proud of the murder of six million in the holocaust and wishes the same to descendants of the survivors, do not preclude membership in the party. After his comments were aired in July, Netanyahu ordered his expulsion from the party. The court overturned the decision. In its verdict, it described Zarka's regret and mentioned "the untiring activity of Yitzchak Zarka and his wife Hanni in service of the party". The Likud has said it would appeal the ruling.
When a prominent activist in the ruling party of the country which rose from the ashes of the holocaust wishes me the same fate as many of my family members, and his suspension is canceled, that sends a message about what may or may not be said about the holocaust and its victims. When Israel’s prime minister spends time and money to meet with a person who enables hate speech, including against Jews, that can be viewed as tolerance towards antisemitic discourse.
Dear world, on this matter, you may take your lead from Musk, Zarka and Israel – if conduct seems to serve the needs of the regime and the ruler, everything is tolerated and anything goes.