Weaponizing Social Media: How TikTok Could Serve 'Israel's' Netanyahu

A few years ago, TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, became one of the most important engagement platforms for young people both inside and outside the U.S.

The app gained particular power thanks to a recommendation algorithm that anticipates user preferences.

This raised serious questions about whether the sale of TikTok's US operations was solely aimed at preventing Chinese foreign influence, or whether, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it, it was the most important acquisition currently underway to enhance Israel's message and influence over US public opinion.

A deal to transfer TikTok's US operations to an American consortium for $14 billion was recently completed, a move repeatedly demanded by the Joe Biden and Donald Trump administrations under security pretexts.

Leaked documents have highlighted that some new investors aim to use TikTok to influence American public opinion, particularly among the younger generation, in favor of “Israel”.

However, given the dangerous shift in Western public opinion in recent months, Israel's focus is no longer limited to traditional methods: lobbies (for example, AIPAC), evangelical Christian groups, and relations with members of Congress, or to modern methods: social media.

Tel Aviv has also been purchasing large-budget political ads to promote its narratives, ranging from Google to billboards in Times Square in the heart of New York City.

Official documents received by the US Department of Justice revealed that Tel Aviv funded a broad public relations campaign to shape American public opinion using social media influencers, as part of what is known as ‘Project Esther’.

Israeli Propaganda

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently outlined Tel Aviv's arms priorities, revealing that they are closely awaiting the success of the acquisition of TikTok's US operations to a group of pro-“Israel” American investors, alongside a fund run by Abu Dhabi's ruling family, in order to secure its fan base in the U.S.

In a meeting with a number of social media influencers and activists in the U.S. on September 26, Netanyahu emphasized the need to control X, saying, “We will talk to Elon Musk about it. He is not an enemy, but a friend. If we can get these two things, we will get a lot.”

Netanyahu also accused NGOs and other entities of spreading anti-“Israel” and anti-Semitic messages in the United States via these social media platforms.

His statements came as Israel's international isolation grew amid the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 66,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children.

It's also noteworthy that the Likud leader did not address Meta and its leading platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, given his satisfaction with their performance in protecting Israel's image and narratives while suppressing Palestinian voices that highlight the horror of the crimes committed in the Gaza Strip.

According to Human Rights Watch, Meta has complied with approximately 96% of Israeli requests to remove content from its platforms, the highest response rate of any country in the world.

A few days ago, during one of his speeches, Netanyahu asked attendees if they carried phones, adding, “Then you are carrying a piece of Israel.”

However, Israeli arrogance has prompted angry reactions, particularly among Americans.

One activist described Netanyahu's meeting with American influencers as blatant propaganda, warning against the weaponization of misinformation.

He also noted that Netanyahu literally speaks as if TikTok had been purchased for “Israel”.

Influential Platform

Although US lawmakers launched their campaign against TikTok's US operations on national security grounds, Netanyahu confirmed concerns raised by activists earlier that the acquisition was about controlling the narrative around Israel's crimes.

With more than 170 million US users, TikTok has become more than just a short video app, transforming into an influential platform for shaping public opinion, shaping societal debates, and even political campaigns.

Since the start of the offensive on Gaza nearly two years ago, TikTok in the U.S. has become a window for activists to share content documenting Israel's crimes in Gaza with relative freedom.

By October-November 2023, members of Congress were explicitly targeting TikTok over its Gaza coverage.

Then, the US Congress passed a law requiring the Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell its US operations to a local company.

The bill was spearheaded by Rep. Mike Gallagher, a lawmaker directly funded by the American “Israel” Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Senators Josh Hawley and Marco Rubio also called for a ban on the app in the U.S., citing its pro-Palestinian and anti-“Israel” content.

House Republicans, including Cathy McMorris Rodgers, demanded transparency from TikTok regarding alleged anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas content.

The attacks culminated in September 2024, with lawmakers in Washington accusing TikTok’s algorithm of being biased against “Israel”.

Documented Israeli massacres in Gaza have prompted more than two-thirds of TikTok users in the U.S. to take a sharp stance against “Israel”, according to opinion polls.

Controversial Acquisition

The recent acquisition of TikTok aims to curb the platform favored by the younger generation, especially after it became a megaphone for the tragedies of the Palestinians within US public opinion, bringing about an unprecedented radical shift in the attitude toward the Palestinian Cause.

Faceted by these facts, US President Donald Trump acted to safeguard national security interests, signing an executive order for a deal allowing ByteDance to retain less than 20% of TikTok's ownership in the U.S.

In return, American investors will control more than 65% of TikTok's ownership, along with the Emirati investment fund MGX, headed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which will acquire a 15% stake.

Among the American investors who will acquire TikTok's US operations is Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who donated more than $26 million to the Friends of the “Israel” Defense Forces.

Oracle has also cooperated with the Israeli government in technology and military infrastructure, and Ellison previously offered Netanyahu a seat on the company's board and invited him to his private island in Hawaii.

Added to the list are Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, owners of the right-wing, pro-“Israel” Fox News network and the media conglomerate News Corp.

The family also owns the New York Post, which has a history of attacking pro-Palestinian activists and polishing the image of the Israeli military.

Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, also joins the list. His name has been linked to providing the Israeli military with technology and data, as well as supporting its security institutions, either directly or through startups acquired by Dell in “Israel”.

Observers believe that the backgrounds of the investors considered to acquire TikTok, who share a common commitment to “Israel”, raise concerns about the suppression of freedom of expression and the restriction of pro-Palestinian content.

In turn, Washington-based political activist Omar Taha explained to Al-Estiklal that during the Israeli genocide in Gaza, TikTok provided a less restrictive space for the emergence of the Palestinian voice and expression of solidarity with the Palestinians.

He pointed out that the pro-“Israel” acquisition of TikTok's US operations marks the beginning of a new phase of censorship and blocking aimed at concealing the truth from American public opinion, which has become more pro-Palestinian.

However, Mr. Taha noted that controlling TikTok and suppressing freedom of expression will not be able to change the views of young Americans, noting that there are alternative sources such as mainstream news, YouTube, Reddit, and X.