The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) applauds Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, for protecting the dignity and safety of Jews and standing against bullying and hate by no longer tolerating the use of the word “Zionist” as a slur or in an antisemitic manner. Posts using it in a hateful, dehumanising manner against Jews will be blocked going forward as part of Meta’s new policy on hate speech.
In a separate submission to the Oversight Board, an independent body that advises Meta on content moderation, the SAZF highlighted the phrase “from the River to the Sea” and noted that antisemitism and attacks on Jews increased in 2023 compared to 2022, both abroad and locally, underscoring the potential danger of growing online antisemitism.
Banning the use of “Zionist” as a hateful insult against Jews will be a powerful tool in combating antisemitism and the ostracism of Jews both online and in person.
