MUSK'S NAZI SALUTE MILDLY REBUKED BY ZIONIST GROUP

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a firestorm of debate following what many observers interpret as a Nazi salute during a rally following the 20 January inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

Reactions to Musk's action are sharply divided, but many have criticised the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent pro-Israel advocacy organisation, for offering a notably mild rebuke. The group characterised Musk's salute as an ‘awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm.’ Musk seemed to reply with a sarcastic thanks, including a laugh emoji.

The ADL’s weak response to Musk’s salute is striking, given Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s national director and CEO, likened the keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, to the Nazi swastika during a TV appearance in March 2024.

Some from within the ADL have denounced Greenblatt for what they have labelled a ‘dishonest campaign’ against pro-Palestine activists. In 2022, he equated anti-Zionism with white supremacy, despite the ADL’s findings indicating no correlation between white supremacists and those who express anti-Israel sentiments.

During the ADL’s leadership summit in May 2022, Greenblatt called organisations such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)—which advocate for Palestinian rights—as ‘extremist’ and the ‘photo inverse of the extreme right,’ attributing anti-semitic hate crimes to their activities.

Perhaps Musk's status as a big-donor supporter of Israel has swayed the ADL. Alternatively, some speculate it could be a case of like-minded individuals aligning themselves.

X credits: @ADL @elinachos @jewishaction @DeanObeidallah @ahogan716 @YesYoureRacist

Sources:

https://www.jpost.com/blogs/clash-of-cultures/is-the-keffiyeh-the-new-swastika-366738

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/jan/05/adl-pro-israel-advocacy-zionism-antisemitism

https://mondoweiss.net/2024/04/jonathan-greenblatts-racist-keffiyeh-smear-is-another-chapter-in-the-adls-war-on-palestinians/

https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ADLNew.pdf

https://www.adl.org/remarks-jonathan-greenblatt-adl-virtual-national-leadership-summit

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/wikipedia-votes-declare-adl-unreliable-israel-and-antisemitism-report

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67544945