B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith is deeply disappointed with Facebook’s response to a request to shut down a dangerous page aimed at Israel.

Facebook’s response: “Thanks for your recent report of a potential violation on Facebook. After reviewing your report, we were not able to confirm that the specific page you reported violates Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.”

In fact, Facbook’s own Community Standards (http://www.facebook.com/communitystandards) expresses it best:  “Facebook does not permit hate speech, but distinguishes between serious and humorous speech. While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition.”

The page in general and some particular posts most especially are clearly in violation of Facebook’s own standards.

While we support free speech, this page degenerates into incitement.

We urge Facebook to immediately review and enforce its own policy regarding outright expressions of hate and intolerance.