Elon Musk holds meeting with Israel PM Netanyahu

WASHINGTON: Billionaire Elon Musk made headlines by attending an address delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States (US) Congress on Thursday, later meeting him privately.

This marks a growing series of interactions between the influential entrepreneur and the Israeli leader.

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Musk was seated in the upper gallery of the Senate Chamber of the US Congress during the Netanyahu’s speech. His presence alongside Netanyahu’s personal guests hints at strong personal connections being fostered between the tech magnate and the Israeli government.

The visit continues a series of engagements between Netanyahu and Musk in recent months. In September 2023, Netanyahu visited Tesla’s Fremont Factory, where he and his wife had a test drive in a Tesla Cybertruck. The following month, Musk made a trip to Israel, where he spent time at an area that had been targeted by Hamas earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s speech focused on Israel’s ongoing military provocations and bombardments in Gaza and the strategic partnership with the United States,

In his recent address to Congress, the Israeli PM talked about the “enduring” alliance between the United States and Israel. He stated that the partnership between the two countries was important for the advancement of “democratic values”.

“For the forces of civilisation to prevail, America and Israel must stand together. When we stand united, the result is straightforward: we succeed, and they fail,” Netanyahu declared.

The Israeli PM also framed the ongoing conflict with Iran as a significant threat to both nations, painting it as impacting the stability and peace of Middle East.

Following the address, Netanyahu and Musk met in Washington to discuss several critical topics. The conversation focused on artificial intelligence (AI), including its impact on the economy and society, and explored potential avenues for technological cooperation between Israel and Musk’s companies.

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Netanyahu announced the meeting on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Musk’s involvement with Israeli technology extends to the Starlink internet service. A mutual agreement between Musk’s Starlink and the Israeli Ministry of Communication ensured that Starlink’s coverage extended to Gaza.