‘From the river to the sea’ is not discriminatory, Meta Oversight panel rules

Meta Platforms’ Oversight Board said that the phrase “From the river to the sea” has several meanings, and as such its use cannot in itself be deemed to be harmful, violent or discriminatory.

The board, which operates independently but is funded by the US social media firm, said the Facebook parent should not automatically remove the phrase, which is seen by some as displaying solidarity with Palestinians and by others as an endorsement of violence against Jews.

The phrase refers to the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, between which lie Israel and the Palestinian territories. It is often chanted at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The Oversight Board said it came to the conclusion after it had reviewed three cases involving content posted on Facebook by different users containing the phrase.

“In upholding Meta’s decisions to keep up the content, the majority of the board notes the phrase has multiple meanings and is used by people in various ways and with different intentions,” the panel said, according to Al Jazeera.

“Specifically, the three pieces of content contain contextual signs of solidarity with Palestinians – but no language calling for violence or exclusion,” it added.

Critics of the phrase say it is antisemitic and a call for Israel’s eradication. Other groups dispute that interpretation.

“Context is crucial,” said Oversight Board co-chair Pamela San Martin.

“Simply removing political speech is not a solution. There needs to be room for debate, especially during times of crisis and conflict.”

“We welcome the board’s review of our guidance on this matter,” Meta said in a statement.

“While all of our policies are developed with safety in mind, we know they come with global challenges and we regularly seek input from experts outside Meta, including the Oversight Board.”

Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University which promotes free speech, called the decision by the board “thoughtful (and in my opinion, correct).”

The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, said the decision was “short-sighted.”

“Usage of this phrase has the effect of making members of the Jewish and pro-Israel community feel unsafe and ostracized,” it said.

The phrase has caused trouble for people outside the realm of social media. In Germany, saying “From the river to the sea” is a criminal offence, according to CNN. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak labelled those who chanted the slogan as “idiots”. The US House voted to censure Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, Congress’s lone Palestinian-American lawmaker, specifically citing a video she published on social media containing the phrase.

Supermodel Bella Hadid also faced severe backlash after she attended a pro-Palestine rally in 2021 and the Israeli state claimed that she was chanting, along with other protesters, to “throw the Jews in the sea”. In reality, the protesters were chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

The Oversight Board’s decision comes as the death toll in Gaza exceeds 40,000 due to ongoing Israeli aggression in the region. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted that more than one million people in central and southern Gaza did not receive any food rations in August. An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicines.