Pro-Israel activist and influencer Hillel Fuld, a leading startup adviser, global speaker and tech columnist, was horrified to learn that media outlets have posted quotes comparing him to virulent antisemites Ye (aka Kanye West) and Candace Owens. All three were barred from entering Australia.
Fuld, a 46-year-old American Israeli, had been scheduled to speak on the topic of Israeli tech innovation at two Magen David Adom Australia fundraising events last month. Less than a week ahead of the first event, as reported at the time by JNS, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs informed him that his visa was refused because he posed “a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community” with particular concern for “the Islamic population.”
Fuld’s online comments were “inflammatory,” Home Affairs claimed.
In his latest social media comment on the subject Thursday morning, Fuld expressed outrage that “ABC, NBC, CBS, The Sydney Morning Herald, Times of Israel, The Economic Times, Yahoo, Rolling Stone, The Jewish Independent, Hollywood Unlocked and many, many more” outlets have published statements placing him in the same category as racists Owens and Ye, citing several examples.
“Can’t make this stuff up!” Fuld wrote. “No words.”
For instance, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday, “Last month, Australia banned pro-Israel influencer Hillel Fuld from entering, and in October barred U.S. conservative pundit Candace Owens.”
Among Fuld’s posts deemed inciteful by the Australian authorities was the statement that “Islamophobia is rational.”
Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke told ABC News, “If someone argued that antisemitism was rational, I would not let them come here on a speaking tour. And if someone has the same view of Islamophobia, I don’t want them here when the purpose of the visa is to give public speeches.”
In an interview with JNS on Thursday, Fuld said, “The post that they’re referring to was when I said we have data showing that 10-20% of Muslims worldwide have been radicalized, which equals hundreds of millions of people. So, the fear of 300 million people who look to destroy the West in the name of Islam—fearing that is anything but an irrational fear.”
Fuld noted that “phobia” refers to fear rather than irrational hatred such as antisemitism.
“I just think it’s absolutely ludicrous and absurd that they’re putting me in the same sentence as Kanye West and Candace Owens, who are just full-blown antisemites when I am anything but a racist,” he said.” I just think it’s a very lean and transparent excuse to silence a strong pro-Israel voice.”
Ye, a rapper, singer and record producer, was banned from Australia due to his antisemitic comments and lyrics, including his “Heil Hitler” song, which was released in May.
“We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry,” Burke said.
According to ABC, “Burke did not say there was a permanent ban on the rapper, pointing out visa applications were reassessed each time in accordance with the law.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have tried to convince the Australian government to reconsider its decision to bar Fuld.
“The decision was not reversed. The appeal was rejected, despite all the effort. Nothing came of it,” Fuld said.
Asked whether he would consider taking legal action, he said, “It’s nothing that I’m focused on right now.”
JNS emailed Burke for comment on the comparison between Ye and Fuld but has received no response to date.