Anthony Albanese labels pro-Palestine chant ’From the river to the sea’ a violent statement

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled the popular pro-Palestine chant “From the river to the sea” a violent statement which has no place on Australian streets in a new documentary.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled popular pro-Palestine chant “From the river to the sea” a violent statement that has no place on Australian streets in his strongest comments on the issue yet.

In a new documentary by Sky News, Mr Albanese agreed with comments from former Defence boss Dennis Richardson calling the chant “a very violent statement” which could
“easily flow into actions of violence against communities in our own country”.

The slogan — which is being used with increasing frequency at pro-Palestine protests since the start of the Israel-Hamas war — suggests Palestinians should be free from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, essentially wiping out the State of Israel.

Documentary host and former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg asked if the statement had “no place on our streets” to which is Mr Albanese said “I agree”.

Tents with graffiti saying free Gaza and from the river to the sea. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“When I put to the Prime Minister directly on the documentary that the river to the sea slogan was ‘an extremely violent statement’ he immediately agreed saying ‘it is’,” he said.

“We have waited too long for strong action by our leaders so now is the time they must step up and clamp down on these violent slogans and protests.”

Mr Frydenberg said it was now up to Mr Albanese, university leaders and police to crack down on the use of the slogans at protests including recent encampments at universities.

“The Prime Minister has rightly made clear what should happen across the country it’s now up to him, university leaders and law enforcement to make it happen. These cannot be idle words by the Prime Minister they must be words that are followed by action,” he said.

“Dennis Richardson’s comment on our upcoming documentary … makes the position adopted by many of our university leaders to these slogans and protests untenable.”

Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will present a Sky News documentary on anti-Semitism called Never Again in late May 2024. Picture: Sky News Australia.

Views on the chant have caused friction within Labor with Mr Albanese stepping in after his Education Minister Jason Clare said it had different meanings to different people.

I’ve seen people say that those words mean the annihilation of Israel. I’ve seen people say that it means the opposite,” Mr Clare said on Sunday.

“I’ve seen people say that they are slogans that Israeli political parties have used too. What I’d say is this: what I want all Australians to be calling for is a two-state solution.”

Mr Clare was then overruled by Mr Albanese labelling the chant the opposite of a two state solution.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Picture: David Swift

“It is a slogan that calls for ­opposition to a two-state solution,” the Prime Minister said on Monday.

“The government’s position is very clear, which is the long-term solution in the Middle East ­requires a two-state solution.

“The government’s position is that, it’s that consistently and we’ll continue to put that forward as well. And I think that the slogan … dismisses that, which is not in the interests of Israelis, but is also not in the interests of Palestinians.”

Never Again: The Fight Against Antisemitism Premieres Tuesday 28 May at 7pm AEST. Stream at SkyNews.com.au/stream

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Originally published as Anthony Albanese labels pro-Palestine chant ’From the river to the sea’ a violent statement