Dear Meta Oversight Board,

We are writing to express our outrage and deep condemnation of your decision to allow the phrase “From the river to the sea” to remain on Meta’s platforms. This is not a matter of free speech; it is a call for genocide—a rallying cry for the destruction of Israel and the eradication of the Jewish people from their homeland. Allowing this vile, antisemitic slogan to circulate is not only morally indefensible, it is legally reckless and utterly irresponsible.

By permitting this phrase to remain on Facebook and Instagram, Meta is actively fueling genocidal rhetoric that has already led to violence against Jews worldwide. In the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel, the use of this slogan has surged, and its intent is unmistakable. This phrase calls for the destruction of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, advocating for nothing less than the complete annihilation of the Jewish state. Meta’s inaction gives a green light to this campaign of hatred and violence directly targeting Jews.

It’s important to note that Meta has, in fact, banned other hateful slogans such as:

-"All Lives Matter": While not inherently a hate slogan, this phrase has been flagged for promoting a dismissive or antagonistic stance toward racial justice movements, particularly when used in response to “Black Lives Matter.”

-"Death to [Group]": Variations of this phrase, such as "Death to Jews," "Death to Muslims," or "Death to America," are explicitly banned for inciting violence or hatred. Meta considers these slogans as promoting violence, genocide, or harm toward specific ethnic, religious, or national groups.

The fact that Meta has banned such slogans demonstrates a shocking double standard when it comes to dehumanizing Jews. If Meta can remove these slogans due to their harmful impact, it is imperative that the same standard be applied to "From the river to the sea," which directly incites violence against Jews.

As a matter of moral equivalency, this phrase must be banned just like the others. Even universities and organizations have banned the use of this phrase in specific contexts, recognizing it as hate speech. In Germany, a stricter stance against antisemitism has led to the restriction of pro-Palestinian slogans, including "From the river to the sea," when used in a context that incites violence or hatred.

Meta’s Oversight Board, which should ensure responsible content decisions, is compromised by clear bias. One of the most vocal board members, Tawakkol Karman, has referred to Israel as a "terrorist government" and accused the country of "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing." She has openly celebrated the United Nations’ decision to place Israel’s military on a "list of shame," alongside Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Such virulent, one-sided views render her incapable of making fair or impartial decisions regarding content related to Israel.

Another board member, Nighat Dad, has consistently condemned Israel, describing Gaza as "the world’s open-air jail," and glorified those "martyred" by Israeli strikes. Her biased posts in support of pro-Palestinian protests clearly demonstrate a lack of neutrality. How can anyone trust her to moderate content fairly when she has already publicly aligned herself against Israel?

Moreover, Alan Rusbridger, another Oversight Board member, attempted to justify Hamas’s terror attacks on October 7 by suggesting they did not occur in a vacuum. Such statements, which deflect responsibility from terrorists, underscore the deep-seated bias within Meta’s Oversight Board. These individuals are incapable of making unbiased rulings on content involving Israel.

Meta’s decision to allow the phrase "From the river to the sea" to remain on its platforms is not just a mistake; it is a dangerous endorsement of antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the world’s leading anti-hate organization, has explicitly stated that this slogan is antisemitic. It is a direct call for the elimination of the Jewish state, enshrined in the charter of Hamas, a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel’s destruction. According to a study by the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Threats, 66% of Jewish students understand this chant as advocating the expulsion and genocide of Israeli Jews. This slogan is not harmless; it is a direct threat to Jews everywhere.

The board’s lack of transparency, its clear bias, and its decision to overlook the violent implications of this slogan raise serious questions about its credibility and integrity. Meta would never allow such a slogan targeting any other protected group. Would you tolerate a call for genocide against African Americans, Native Americans, or Palestinians? Absolutely not. By allowing this slogan against Jews, Meta is endorsing blatant antisemitism.

Meta must act immediately. The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide explicitly prohibits incitement to genocide, and Meta’s failure to ban this phrase puts the company at risk of violating not only international law but also U.S. federal anti-terrorism laws. By continuing to allow this slogan, Meta is complicit in promoting violence and hatred against Jews.

We demand that you immediately ban the slogan "From the river to the sea" and all other content that incites violence against Jews. Every moment of inaction on your part further enables the spread of antisemitism and implicates Meta in perpetuating this hate.

The time for deliberation is over. Meta must act now—before more harm is done. You have a moral obligation to prevent the incitement of violence, death, and genocide toward Jews. This is a serious responsibility.

Sincerely,
Linda L

Sent from my iPhone