The Anti-Defamation League came under attack for its decision to come to the defence of Elon Musk over the latter’s Hitler salute during the political rally led by Donald Trump. Probably the most potent anti-Semitism watch dog organisation in the United States said Musk raised his arm ‘in a goofy gesture in a moment of excitement’, activists push back noting this represents “a disturbing bias toward muzzling Israel’s critics rather than actually fighting antisemitism.”.
Political director at Jewish Voice for Peace, Beth Miller, blasted the ADL’s stance as damaging to their credibility in combating anti-Semitism. She indicated that the organization has been targeting Palestinian rights advocates while showing leniency on those figures who support Israel from the far-right. This perception grew worse after Musk made his gesture while speaking before the crowd at the Capital One Arena.
Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez assailed the ADL’s response, describing it as being tantamount to giving a “Heil Hitler salute” seal of approval. The move by Musk has been labeled a “classic Nazi salute” by historians, like historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat.
IfNotNow’s Matan Arad-Neeman accused the ADL of being obscene by comparison, adding that it has treated anti-war activists protesting for a Gaza ceasefire “worse.”.
In a remarkable about-face, barely over a year and a half ago, Musk threatened to take the ADL to court for assertions that it was interfering with advertising on X, the company he bought. Nevertheless, in a recent press statement, the ADL has expressed praise for Musk, which makes its priorities that much more murky.
Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish group, has signed onto a petition that demands the ADL retract its defense of Musk based on the disparate ways the organization approaches anti-Semitism and pro-Palestinian sentiment.
