The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its New York chapter (CAIR-NY) today condemned actor Jerry Seinfeld’s assertion that Palestine “doesn’t exist,” calling the remark a dehumanizing denial of Palestinian history, identity, peoplehood and human rights.
CAIR also called on actors’ guilds and companies that work with Seinfeld to speak out.
SEE: Jerry Seinfeld Dismisses ‘Free Palestine’ Chant After Knicks Game: ‘It Doesn’t Exist’
Backlash after US actor Jerry Seinfeld says Palestine ‘doesn’t exist’
Seinfeld is facing growing backlash after responding Palestine “doesn’t exist” to a live-streamer at Madison Square Garden outside Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
The comment comes amid longstanding controversy over Seinfeld’s outspoken support for the Israeli government during its genocide in Gaza.
In a statement, CAIR and CAIR-NY said:
“Palestinians are not a punchline and their existence is not up for debate. Palestine exists. Palestinian children exist. Palestinian families exist. Palestinian history, culture, land, identity and rights exist. To deny the existence of Palestine is not comedy, commentary or political opinion. It is dehumanization.
“When a public figure like Jerry Seinfeld denies Palestinian existence, that racist rhetoric contributes to a climate in which Palestinian suffering is ignored and Palestinian rights are treated as disposable. This is the same logic that has long been used to erase Indigenous peoples, justify occupation and normalize apartheid.”
CAIR said such remarks are especially egregious and dangerous at a time when Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure genocide, mass displacement, starvation and destruction, and when anti-Palestinian racism is being used to justify censorship, discrimination and violence against Palestinians and those who advocate for their rights.
CAIR called on Seinfeld to retract the reported statement, apologize to Palestinians and use his platform to reject anti-Palestinian racism.
CAIR also urged media outlets, cultural institutions and public figures to treat anti-Palestinian racism with the same seriousness afforded to other forms of bigotry.
Earlier this week, CAIR called on the Tribeca Festival to “take appropriate action” after a sick “joke” made by actor Elon Gold and influencer Lizzy Savetsky at the festival in which they appeared to mock reports of sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com