Netanyahu said Musk was “a great friend of Israel” and praised his support following the October 7 Hamas attack. The meeting comes as U.S. Jewish groups express alarm over Musk’s far‑right associations and his growing role as an advisor to former President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu’s U.S. trip also included meetings with key Trump advisors on the Middle East and national security. In conversations held overnight between Monday and Tuesday with Steve Witkoff and Mickey Waltz, Netanyahu discussed efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli delegation is set to visit Doha later this week to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, a process that Hamas confirmed began Tuesday.
Negotiations, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, aim to extend the initial ceasefire—implemented on January 19 after over 15 months of conflict—which is currently scheduled to last until early March and includes the release of some hostages and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump on Tuesday evening to further discuss the Gaza ceasefire and the potential for a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia.
While a significant portion of the Israeli public supports extending the ceasefire as a chance to secure the release of hostages taken on October 7, Netanyahu faces pressure from far‑right coalition partners who oppose any pause in military operations, arguing that despite being weakened, Hamas still controls Gaza.
In addition to these security discussions, media reports indicate that Netanyahu’s meeting with Musk also touched on Israel-U.S. cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, according to Ynet.
The Israeli leader recalled a recent social media post in which he defended Musk after the billionaire made a gesture at President Trump’s inauguration that some interpreted as a Roman salute. “Musk is falsely smeared,” Netanyahu had said.
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Source: PAP, Haaretz