Doing the rounds: This video of CNN Political commentator Marc Lamont Hill at the UN’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, endorsing violent resistance against Israel and calling for a “free Palestine from the river to the sea.”
But it is no surprise. MLH has been saying this for a while now, while claiming with a straight face he is not antisemitic.
Also a critique of the State of Israel does not, as such, make one anti-Semitic. Are there anti-Semitic critics & critiques? ABSOLUTELY.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) October 15, 2015
Meanwhile on Twitter, MLH denies he called for Israel’s destruction
Ummm. That’s absurd. I called for freedom and equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of race, religion, class, gender, or sexual identity. No one should have greater or fewer rights and privileges in a democracy. It’s quite simple. https://t.co/bT3EMowWQ9
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 28, 2018
Yet “”free Palestine from the river to the sea” is synonymous with calling for the destruction of the State of Israel (including genocide of the Jews living here). No-one who ever chanted this meant the Jewish state of Israel should remain. Ever.
Some political commentator.
He also invokes another entirely irrelevant defense
This is silly. And inaccurate. “River to the sea” is a phrase that precedes Hamas by more than 50 years. It also has a variety of meanings. In my remarks, which you clearly didn’t hear, I was talking about full citizenship rights IN Israel and a redrawing of the pre-1967 borders. https://t.co/6jFN22mTcq
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 28, 2018
The expression originated with the PLO and was later adopted by Hamas. But it always means no Israel.
He claims he has a “huge problem” with Hamas
I have a huge problem with Hamas. I’ve been consistent on that.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 29, 2018
Clearly it is not their terrorism, because he defended such actions as “resistance” in his speech.
Then there’s this:
The 20% minority of Palestinians living in Israel are systematically denied access to equal rights. From free speech to housing to family reunification. I’m speaking about concrete laws currently on the books. https://t.co/0A4icpTEFt
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 28, 2018
Note by “palestinians” he is including Israeli Arabs, most of whom identify themselves as Israeli. And there are no concrete laws discriminating against them. But he needn’t take my word for it – he can ask Israeli Arab Salim Joubran, former judge on the Supreme Court of Israel.
Marc Lamont Hill: a few letters and a world of morality and integrity away from MLK.
Thank you Anne Bayefsky, Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President of Human Rights Voices, for highlighting this vile speech.