A stand-in ABC radio presenter who was suspended after a series of pro-Palestine posts on social media has hit back by threatening legal action against the public broadcaster.
Antoinette Lattouf had been hosting the ABC Sydney mornings this week, filling in for Sarah Macdonald, but was told on Wednesday afternoon that she would not be returning to the airwaves.
“ABC Sydney casual presenter Antoinette Lattouf will be off-air for her remaining two shifts this week,” an ABC spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia.
Late Wednesday evening, Lattouf posted on Instagram that she was “very disappointed by today's ABC decision.”
“I believe I was wrongfully dismissed,” she said. “This is not a victory for journalism or critical, honest thinking. I am currently considering my legal options.'
Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) hosted ABC Sydney's mornings this week but was told on Wednesday afternoon that she would not be returning to the airwaves
Late Wednesday evening, Lattouf posted on Instagram that she was “very disappointed by today's ABC decision. The message is displayed
The outspoken journalist had posted enthusiastically on Monday about filling in for Macdonald.
She was originally going to present the morning radio program for five days, but now she will no longer return to the program on Thursdays and Fridays.
It is understood Lattouf's posts about the Middle East conflict, which appeared on various online platforms, breached the ABC's social media policy.
The ABC has a strict editorial policy and requires staff to be impartial in their reporting.
“An ill-considered post or tweet could immediately jeopardize this perception of impartiality,” the ABC rules say.
Lattouf recently co-authored an article questioning the veracity of viral footage showing pro-Palestinian activists chanting “gas the Jews” during an October protest at the Sydney Opera House.
“Analysis of the Aust Jewish Association videos by fact-checker RMIT CrossCheck found a number of clues suggesting the audio was edited…,” she claimed.
In another post from November, Lattouf wrote: “We need a PERMANENT ceasefire and must address the ROOT of the problem: the unlawful occupation of Palestine.”
In a video posted to Instagram in October, Latouff attempted to analyze the conflict between Israel and Palestine, calling both Hamas and the Israeli government “extremists.”
She called for mourning all civilian lives lost in the conflict and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Semitic rhetoric, but added: “You can and must end the illegal military occupation of Palestine that has lasted 75 years.” takes place, condemn.
“You cannot and should not forget that human rights organizations internationally and in Israel have called the occupation 'apartheid,'” she said.
Lattouf (pictured), who was fired after a series of pro-Palestinian posts on social media, has come out fighting and threatened legal action
The outspoken journalist (photo) had posted enthusiastically on Monday about filling in for Macdonald
It is understood Lattouf's posts about the Middle East conflict, which appeared on various online platforms, breached the ABC's social media policy. Lattouf is depicted
“You can and must speak out against the occupation of Palestine – because that is the root of it all.”
She wrote that she had disabled comments on the post to “limit hate speech.”
But as of late Wednesday night, her latest Instagram post about being “very disappointed by the ABC's decision” and considering legal action was still full of comments.
A mother of two, Lattouf is also co-founder of Media Diversity Australia – a not-for-profit organization supporting increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in media.
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Lattouf for further comment.