Marc Lamont Hill fired from CNN amid accusations of anti-Semitism that he denies
CNN cut ties with Marc Lamont Hill after he made comments about Israel and Palestine in a speech at the United Nations on Wednesday.
A CNN spokesperson told Mediaite Thursday that Hill was no longer under contract. But Hill vehemently denied being anti-Semitic, taking to social media to make his case.
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The incident began when he said during a speech Wednesday: “We have an opportunity to not just offer solidarity in words but to commit to political action, grass-roots action, local action and international action that will give us what justice requires and that is a free Palestine from the river to the sea.”
The “from the river to the sea” line was the problem because it is a phrase that has been used by Hamas and other anti-Israel terrorist groups. The National Council of Young Israel and Anti-Defamation League condemned the remark as anti-Semitic.
“I support Palestinian freedom,” Hill tweeted. “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.”
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“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,” he continued. “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.
Here are the tweets:
I support Palestinian freedom. I support Palestinian self-determination. I am deeply critical of Israeli policy and practice.
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.
— 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
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
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