Renowned Canadian Psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson caused a stir among his fans, particularly within the Muslim community when he publicly posted a photo breaking bread with recently re-elected Israeli Prime Minister of the ultra-right group Benjamin Netanyahu and Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro. 

Leading up to the post were videos circulating of Peterson’s visit to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on October 11, 2022. Critics say Peterson stormed the mosque with Israeli settlers, which Peterson has refuted saying he entered to make a documentary with the Daily Wire and prayed while on premises there.

However, the Canadian self-help guru entered the premises just two days after Muslim worshippers were removed to pave way for a group of Jewish worshippers as they entered to pray, marking the first day of the Jewish holy festival of Sukkot. The same thing happened two days later, only this time, the way was being cleared for Dr. Jordan Peterson. 

“There was nothing particularly political about our activities. We traveled there as part of… an upcoming documentary about the Holy City,” he said.

“Christians and Jews are not permitted to pray there… that presented a problem for me, because I was talking on the site, and it is true to say that I endeavored to pray while doing so.”

A passerby who shot the video of the scene claimed that Peterson and his crew’s entry was rather aggressive as he briskly walked in with a gang of belligerent Israeli settlers.

During his visit to Al Aqsa, Peterson was accompanied by Daily Wire editor-in-chief and founder, Ben Shapiro, who is no stranger to controversy due to his staunch political views. 

Jordan Peterson has a large Muslim fan following with many appreciating his seemingly noble works. Several Muslims were visibly upset when Peterson’s tour into the Al Aqsa moque video circulated, and even more so when he posted a photo of him sitting with the notorious re-elected Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Nethanyahu. 

Several adherents of the religion of Islam as well as those who were pro-Palestine took to his comments section to express their anger. Many wrote ‘Free Palestine’, another wrote ‘A handshake that’s stained with blood’ while others expressed shame and disappointment over the ‘hypocrisy’.

Others who revered Jordan Peterson shared photos on their stories throwing out Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life” book into the garbage as a means of boycott. 

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving leader of the infamous Likud right-wing party, became Prime Minister again just a short year later. Netanyahu, while on trial for corruption and fraud charges two of which were admitted, is forming his government this week which is said to take 28 days. 

Under Netanyahu, crimes have been documented and committed against Palestinians, from encouraging armed

violence against them as well as denying Palestinian statehood. 

As Peterson dined with Netanyahu and publicly posted a picture in his company, many Muslims are grappling with the idea that there is more to Peterson’s story.