Senator successfully garners backing to denounce ‘From the River to the Sea’ Pro-Palestinian slogan
A Labor Senator used the phrase but was absent for the Senate vote.
Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham successfully passed a motion in the Senate denouncing the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
It is considered offensive to Jewish people as it advocates for the destruction of Israel, located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Mr. Birmingham brought forward his motion after Labor Senator Fatima Payman stated the phrase publicly.
“This is a genocide. And we need to stop pretending otherwise. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
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The shadow foreign minister’s motion aligned with Mr. Albanese’s views that the chant opposes a two-state solution.
Mr. Birmingham’s resolution also urged Senators to participate in discussions and commentary responsibly, avoiding divisive and inflammatory statements both inside and outside the chamber.
Labor and the Coalition joined forces to support the motion condemning the anti-Semitic chant, while the Greens opposed it.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Birmingham expressed concern that the anti-Semitic slogan “from the river to the sea” has gained acceptance, even among government members.
“Such chants and phrases do not belong in the kind of political discourse we want in our country,” Mr. Birmingham stated.
“They should be rejected due to the way they incite division, fuel hatred, and promote acts of antisemitism. We must stand against all forms of antisemitism, including language that sustains it.”
In response, Foreign Minister Penny Wong asserted that the phrase “from the river to the sea” contradicts a two-state solution.
“A two-state solution is essential for the peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. We will advocate for a humanitarian ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a two-state solution, using our voice and vote at the United Nations to advance international support for such a solution,” she said.
Israel initiated an assault on Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and the capture of 250 hostages, many of whom have since perished. Subsequently, 35,000 individuals have died in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry.
