Political commentator Marc Lamont Hill was ousted Thursday by CNN after making controversial remarks about Israel during a speech at the United Nations for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, according to Al Jazeera.
“Marc Lamont Hill is no longer under contract with CNN,” according to a statement from a spokesperson at the news network.
On Tuesday @CNN aired a devastating report on antisemitism in Europe. Today CNN's @marclamonthill echoed Jihadist calls for Israel's violent annihilation, calling for "resist[ance]" to achieve "a free Palestine from the river to the sea." Not a great look. pic.twitter.com/r26Q1BU0lR
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) November 29, 2018
Hill, a professor at Temple University, called for “a single secular democratic state for everyone” and a “free Palestine from the river to the sea,” on Wednesday.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) objected to Hill’s statement, noting that “river to the sea” is a catchphrase of the militant group Hamas and refers to extending Palestine’s borders from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The ADL and many other groups said the remark advocated for the destruction of the Jewish state.
Sharon Nazarian, the ADL’s senior vice president for international affairs, told the Jewish Journal, “Those calling for ‘from the river to the sea’ are calling for an end to the State of Israel.”
I normally would ignore the current drama, but it’s actually important to me that I’m clear and understood. As a matter of principle.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018
Amid the backlash, Hill clarified that he did not support anti-Semitism but defended his statement on social media. “I normally would ignore the current drama, but it’s actually important to me that I’m clear and understood. As a matter of principle,” Hill tweeted.
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
He continued, “I support Palestinian freedom. … I do not support anti-Semitism, killing Jewish people, or any of the other things attributed to my speech.”
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
On using “river to the sea,” he stood firm, declaring, “It was a call for justice, both in Israel and in the West Bank/Gaza. The speech very clearly and specifically said those things.”
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
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
He concluded, “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.”
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 stood by Hill.
“Marc Lamont Hill has been quoted extensively over the last 24 hours. Marc Lamont Hill does not represent Temple University and his views are his own. However, we acknowledge that he has a constitutionally protected right to express his opinion as a private citizen,” a university spokesperson told Fox News.
CNN has yet to comment on why Hill was terminated. Many individuals, including politicians, journalists and activists, are speaking against the pundit’s firing.
Quick thread on the manufactured controversy (i.e. smear campaign) regarding @marclamonthill’s UN speech. Let me start by addressing the competing visions of the one-state solution (1/8)
— Omar Baddar عمر بدّار (@OmarBaddar) November 29, 2018
.@marclamonthill’s speech called for redrawing Israel’s borders back to what they were in 1948 and granting full citizenship for Palestinians IN Israel. Those borders were from the Jordan RIVER to the Mediterranean SEA. He was not calling for Israel’s destruction.#FreePalestine
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) November 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1068360126355161088
Don’t hold your breath… denying the legitimacy and existence of Palestinians/Palestine/historic Palestine, whether its on-air commentary, or in official state policy or in simply punditry is widely acceptable among American mainstream media, politicians, & religious figures https://t.co/6mRPzBSBg2
— Ayman (@AymanM) November 29, 2018