A Federal Court case brought by Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto against former SBS newsreader Mary Kostakidis will examine whether the phrase “from the river to the sea” denies Israel’s right to exist and if criticism of Israel can be considered anti-Semitic.
The case stems from a January 2023 social media post by Kostakidis which reshared a speech by late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and was captioned “The Israeli govt getting some of its own medicine.” In the video, Nasrallah tells Israeli dual citizens to leave the region, claiming they have no future “from the river to the sea.”
Cassuto argues the post promoted anti-Semitic ideas under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, and that Kostakidis should have explicitly disavowed the speech. His legal team cites 61 additional tweets, including references to conspiracy theories involving Mossad.
Kostakidis previously issued an apology and claims the lawsuit is an attempt to silence criticism of Israel. She has since fundraised her defence and will be represented by XD Law & Advocacy.
In a statement to The Australian, Kostakidis said she “won’t be intimidated.”
“The Australian Zionist Federation is weaponising Australian law in an attempt to curb criticism of Israel for its acts of genocide. I won’t be intimidated by them in the face of the slaughter of tens of thousands of children, hundreds of doctors, nurses, journalists and other civilians,” she said in the statement.
Cassuto is seeking an apology, legal costs, and a finding that section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act was breached.
Source: The Australian.
