Western countries always say they are for the freedom of human thoughts, they are to protect the free speech delivery., they work for civilization and thus care for democracy. But in the prevailing war situation between Ganas and the Israeli military, their hypocrisy is unmasked vividly. They don’t allow opinion makers for Palestinians, they hold the voice tight of the people talking for the sorrows of Gazans.
Painfully, the West ideologies are using X largely to spread the innocence of Israel. However, the Israelis wash their hands regularly with the blood of Palestinian mass-people, including children and women. However, the pro-Palestinian uproar amid all these barriers shines boldly with empathy from people around the world.
In a startling turn of events, major corporations, including Apple, Disney, and IBM, have suspended their advertising on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The situation comes to light as the site faces accusations of promoting antisemitism and becoming embroiled in a pro-Palestine uproar. The decision to distance themselves from X follows a series of controversies involving platform owner Elon Musk.
The storm began when Musk amplified an antisemitic trope on X, leading to users’ and advertisers’ outcry. The situation escalated with revelations from a US group, Media Matters for America, which flagged advertisements alongside pro-Nazi posts on the platform. The boycott gained momentum as high-profile firms found their ads juxtaposed with content featuring Hitler quotes, praise of Nazis, and Holocaust denial.
Ad Dollars in retreat
However, Musk vehemently denied the antisemitic nature of his post and, in response to the advertising investigation, threatened to pursue legal action against Media Matters. The left-leaning group countered, claiming that their report aimed to expose the real user experience on X and combat antisemitism, rather than undermine freedom of speech.
X’s spokesperson, in defense of the platform, told the reporters that the company does not intentionally place brands next to such content and is committed to combating antisemitism. Musk, on the other hand, declared on Saturday, November 18, 2023, that X would file a “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters, accusing them of misrepresenting the platform’s user experience to mislead advertisers.
The controversy took a darker turn on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, when Musk responded to a post sharing a conspiracy theory that accused Jewish communities of promoting hatred against white people. Musk initially referred to it as “actual truth” before clarifying that his comments were directed at specific groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and not all Jewish people.
West giants rally to condemn X
The White House condemned Musk’s endorsement of the antisemitic post, denouncing it as the promotion of “antisemitic and racist hate” in the strongest terms. IBM became the first company to pull its advertising from X on Thursday, November 16, 2023, citing the unacceptable juxtaposition of its ads with Nazi content uncovered by the Media Matters investigation.
Musk takes a stand on a controversial phrase!
On Friday, November 17, Musk announced what he framed as proactive measures to address what he described as “calls for extreme violence” against Israel. In a post on X, he declared that users employing phrases such as “from the river to the sea” — deemed by the ADL as a coded call for Israel’s destruction — would face suspension from the platform. The Anti-Defamation League, known for its critical stance on X’s content moderation, surprisingly commended Musk’s announcement, with CEO Jonathan Greenblatt calling it “an important and welcome move.”
X’s Chief Executive, Linda Yaccarino, echoed Musk’s sentiment in a post on Friday evening, asserting that the platform has been “extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination,” emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for such content globally. Musk had appointed Yaccarino, a former advertising executive, to foster relationships with advertisers, a move that now faces significant challenges due to the ongoing controversies.
The controversial video asserts Israel’s innocence!
As major corporations distance themselves from X amidst allegations of antisemitism and pro-Palestine sentiments, a new controversy emerges involving a billionaire real estate tycoon’s push to reshape the narrative surrounding Israel. The media campaign, known as Facts for Peace, is spearheaded by Barry Sternlicht and aims to garner million-dollar donations from influential figures in media, finance, and technology.
Over 50 individuals, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Dell CEO Michael Dell, and financier Michael Milken, with a combined net worth of approximately $500 billion, have been targeted for contributions, according to information obtained by news website Semafor.
Some figures, like investor Bill Ackman, have publicly voiced intentions to blacklist pro-Palestine students critical of Israel. On X, Ackman urged Ivy League universities to disclose the names of students associated with organizations criticizing Israeli policies in Gaza.
Sternlicht, the force behind the campaign, stated that Facts for Peace aims to bolster Israel’s image and vilify Hamas amid global pro-Palestinian solidarity protests.
This comes in the wake of intensive Israeli attacks resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties and significant damage to infrastructure, as reported by Gaza officials.
Sternlicht’s media campaign, Facts for Peace, takes a stance aiming to brand Hamas as a “terrorist organization” while positioning Israel as the sufferer. Seeking $50 million in private donations, matched by a Jewish charity, the campaign faces criticism for its perceived attempt to shape public opinion. Its strategy involves posting videos on various social media platforms, laying blame on Hamas for the plight of Palestinians, and rejecting allegations of Israeli rights violations.
A recent video on the campaign’s Facebook page boldly asserts that “Israel is not an apartheid state,” challenging findings from international experts, including the United Nations. The campaign’s overarching objective is to reshape public sentiment in favor of Israel, countering perceptions of apartheid practices in the occupied territories.
