CNN terminated its relationship with commentator Marc Lamont Hill because of a speech in which he called for a “free Palestine, from the river to the sea.”
The network announced on Thursday that Hill is “no longer under contract with CNN.” This decision came after growing criticism over Hill’s speech at a United Nations event devoted to solidarity with the Palestinians earlier this week.
In his speech, Hill expressed support for boycotting Israel, and stated that a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be “a free Palestine from the river to the sea.”
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
Critics of Hill’s speech said he was calling for the annihilation of Israel. He said in reply: “I believe in a single secular democratic state for everyone. This is the only way that historic Palestine will be free.”
Israeli officials and Jewish organizations in the U.S. denounced his speech and called on CNN to stop inviting him as to its studios. The Anti Defamation League said that “Those calling for ‘from the river to the sea’ are calling for an end to the State of Israel.”
