Lidia Thorpe’s outburst as ‘river to the sea’ chant condemned in parliament

Draped in a keffiyeh, controversial Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe has accused the Labor government of being “complicit in genocide” as the parliament moved to condemn the pro-Palestine chant.

Labor has joined the Coalition in condemning the use of the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

The Coalition motion, which passed the Senate on Thursday, prompted Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe to defiantly yell out the phrase in the chamber while wearing a keffiyeh.

The move comes after Anthony Albanese criticised West Australian Labor Senator Fatima Payman for saying “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during remarks on Wednesday in which she called on the Prime Minister to take action after accusing Israel of conducting “genocide” in Gaza.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe claimed ‘from the river to the sea’ was an “anti-apartheid message” about unity and peace.

Ms Thorpe donned a keffiyeh. Picture: Martin Oldman

Senator Thorpe said Labor should be ashamed about its treatment of Senator Payman.

“She was speaking honestly from the heart about something important she cares about. I commend her for that,” Senator Thorpe said.

“For the Prime Minister to condescend her just shows what kind of culture he is creating in the Labor party, and in this country.”

She said more Labor MPs should be speaking out on the issue and should be allowed to cross the floor.

“People voting next year should remember this. A vote for Labor is a vote for a candidate that will be silenced and forced to give up their values,” Senator Thorpe said.

Labor’s support also goes against motions drafted by pro-Palestinian supporters in Victoria’s Socialist Left that are set to be debated at the ALP state conference this weekend.

The Coalition motion noted that the slogan opposes Israel’s right to exist and was frequently used by those who seek to intimidate Jewish Australians via acts of anti-Semitism.

It also welcomed Mr Albanese’s agreement that the slogan was “a very violent statement” that called for opposition to a two-state solution.

The Senate concurred with his statements in relation to university protests that hatred, ignorance and division did not have a place in Australia, and called on “all senators to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive comments, both inside and outside the chamber at all times”.

Ms Thorpe continued to yell ‘from the river to the sea’ in the chamber moments after the chant was banned. Picture: Martin Oldman

Mr Albanese on Thursday morning said he had not spoken to Senator Payman since she had made the statements.

Asked if it was appropriate that Senator Payman used the controversial phrase, Mr Albanese said: “no, it’s not”.

“What’s appropriate is a two state solution,” he said.

“A two state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live in security, in peace and in prosperity.

“It is not in the interests of either Israelis or Palestinians to advocate there just be one state.”

Ms Thorpe leaves parliament after accusing Labor of being ‘complicit in genocide’. Picture: Martin Oldman

Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham said they supported Mr Albanese’s comments but criticised his leadership on the issue after he revealed he had not spoken to Senator Payman.

“We call on the Prime Minister to take appropriate action and to ensure members of his government members of his party do not act in ways and repeat phrases that incite fuel or are used by those who incite and fuel hatred or anti Semitism,” Senator Birmingham said.

“It is totally unacceptable for Mr Albanese to escape scrutiny or to evade responsibility for the use of such phrases and actions to say that he hasn’t spoken with or acted upon such use is a failure of leadership.”

Labor senator Fatima Payman broke ranks with her party to condemn Israel. Picture: Martin Ollman

Following the motion, Senator Thorpe accused Labor of being “complicit in genocide” after dodging questions about its ties with weapons companies that are supplying Israel with equipment.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher rejected the allegations saying Australia had not supplied weapons to Israel for at least five years.

Senator Payman was not present for the vote on the motion, which the Greens and Senator Thorpe opposed.

While the Victorian government has banned the keffiyeh being worn in the chamber, there is no such ban on federal senators.

Leader of the Government in the Senate, Penny Wong, said anti-semitism had no place anywhere and “we must all stand against it”.

“We want to do what we can to break the cycle of violence. We want a two state solution,” Senator Wong said.

“The phrase from the river to the sea is not consistent with a two state solution. And it is that solution which is needed for peace and security of Palestinians and Israelis alike.”

Meanwhile, Greens leader Adam Bandt has refused to condemn students at the University of Melbourne protest chanting “intifada”.

Asked if the word was appropriate, Mr Bandt, who has previously visited the encampment, said his party supported peaceful protest.

“People were going to great lengths to say what they want is an end to the invasion of Gaza and an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories,” Mr Bandt said ABC.

“There needs to be significant investment in a peace process so that Palestinians and Israelis are both able to live in a just peace and lasting security, exercising their rights to self determination under international law, and that must start with ending the invasion and ending the occupation.”