Fact check: Was 9/11 planned by Israel and the U.S. government?

1. Summary of the results

The claim that 9/11 was planned by Israel and the U.S. government is a conspiracy theory that has been thoroughly debunked by various investigations and expert reviews ^[1]. According to the analyses, government investigations and independent reviews have rejected these theories as unfounded ^[1]. The BBC piece also describes claims that the US staged the attacks and that Israel was behind them, yet emphasizes that extensive official reports have refuted any hidden conspiracy ^[2]. Additionally, the antisemitism glossary identifies the idea that Israel or Jews planned 9/11 as an antisemitic myth, noting it is a baseless conspiracy rather than factual evidence ^[3]. Other sources also debunk the conspiracy theory, stating that many conspiracy theories are preposterous and some recycle long-standing anti-Semitic tropes ^[4]. The persistence of 9/11 conspiracy theories is also reported, including the claim that the US government staged the attacks or knew of them in advance, but provides evidence from official reports and expert groups that refute these claims ^[2]. The collapse of the World Trade Center towers is also explained as a result of fires caused by the aircraft impacts, rather than a controlled demolition or other conspiracy theories, citing official reports and expert consensus ^[5]. In summary, there is no credible evidence to support the claim that 9/11 was planned by Israel and the U.S. government.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key points that are missing from the original statement include the fact that extensive official reports have refuted any hidden conspiracy ^[2]. Additionally, the original statement does not provide any context about the antisemitic nature of the conspiracy theory ^[3]. Alternative viewpoints that are not presented in the original statement include the fact that many conspiracy theories are preposterous and some recycle long-standing anti-Semitic tropes ^[4]. Other alternative viewpoints include the explanation of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers as a result of fires caused by the aircraft impacts, rather than a controlled demolition or other conspiracy theories ^[5]. It is also important to consider the expert consensus and official reports that refute the conspiracy claims ^[5]. Some of the sources also highlight the persistence of 9/11 conspiracy theories and the need to debunk these theories with evidence ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be considered misinforming as it presents a conspiracy theory as a question without providing any context or evidence to support the claim ^[1]. The statement may also be biased towards promoting an antisemitic myth, which is identified as a baseless conspiracy rather than factual evidence ^[3]. The sources that debunk the conspiracy theory suggest that promoting such theories can be harmful and perpetuate antisemitism ^[3]. The original statement may benefit groups that promote conspiracy theories and antisemitism, while the debunking of these theories benefits those who value evidence-based information and expert consensus ^[4]. Overall, it is essential to approach such statements with a critical eye and consider the expert consensus and official reports that refute the conspiracy claims ^[5].