Yesterday, in a speech before the United Nations, CNN commentator and Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill advocated for armed resistance against Israel, stating that a free Palestine should be expanded “from the river to the sea,” a phrase popular with opponents of Israel’s statehood.
After his speech, he clarified on Twitter.
“I support Palestinian freedom. I support Palestinian self-determination. I am deeply critical of Israeli policy and practice,” he said. “I do not support anti-Semitism, killing Jewish people, or any of the other things attributed to my speech. I have spent my life fighting these things.”
In response, the National Council of Young Israel called for his ouster.
“With his racist views and unabashed denigration of Israel, Dr. Hill does not deserve to be given any sort of platform that facilitates the dissemination of his bigotry, whether it be on Cable TV or in a classroom.”
“In light of Dr. Hill’s malevolent anti-Semitic remarks, we call upon CNN and Temple University to fire him immediately,” the statement continued.
Sharon Nazarian, the Anti-Defamation League’s senior vice president for international affairs, condemned Hill’s words.
“Those calling for ‘from the river to the sea’ are calling for an end to the State of Israel,” Nazarian told the Jewish Journal.
Today, CNN announced Hill, who also hosted a show on BET, “is no longer under contract with CNN,” per a spokesperson’s email.
Hill has come under fire for his anti-Israel comments in the past and has been labeled anti-Semitic by opponents online. His use of the “from the river to the sea” phrase is especially troubling: It’s been one of Hamas’ slogans for years.
Still, his ouster saw an outpouring of support from pundits and commentators, many of them pointing out CNN’s decision to keep personalities with anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Ok CNN but keep bringing on Alan Dershowitz who was paid $120K by anti-Muslim extremist group that literally publishes fake news and perpetuates hate and bigotry. Marc’s firing is completely baseless and unwarranted. https://t.co/yS0GjNZX6S
— Rowaida Abdelaziz (@Rowaida_Abdel) November 29, 2018
re: Marc Lamont Hill’s absurd firing, here’s Rick Santorum, paid CNN contributor https://t.co/tQUC7MrxsA pic.twitter.com/Gbv9nLUeZc
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) November 29, 2018
Hill, for his part, has defended his words in a series of tweets, pointing to the historical significance of the phrase in question:
Anyone who studies the region, or the history of Palestinian nationalism, knows that “river to sea” has been, and continues to be, a phrase used by many factions, ideologies, movements, and politicians.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018
The phrase dates back to at least the middle of the British Mandate and has never been the exclusive province of a particular ideological camp. The idea that this is a Hamas phrase is simply untrue.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018
My reference to “river to the sea” was not a call to destroy anything or anyone. It was a call for justice, both in Israel and in the West Bank/Gaza. The speech very clearly and specifically said those things. No amount of debate will change what I actually said or what I meant.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018
While, ultimately, reaffirming his original speech:
This isn’t a case of throwing rocks and hiding hands. I genuinely believe in the arguments and principles that I shared in the speech. I also genuinely want peace, freedom, and security for everyone. These are not competing ideals and values.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018
Temple University could not be reached for comment.
