“A popular chant at pro-Palestinian protests in Australia and around the world is ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ Why is this important?”
Backgrounder from the Quaker Peace & Legislative Committee (QPLC)
A popular chant at pro-Palestinian protests in Australia and around the world is ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ There are significant differences of views about this phrase, with some groups arguing it is a call for freedom for all, and others that the phrase is antisemitic. This backgrounder shares some background and context to this phrase.
Which river, which sea, and why it matters
Geographically, ‘river to the sea’ refers to the Jordan River, and the Mediterranean Sea, which mark the eastern and western borders of historic Palestine.
In 1920, Britain assumed responsibility for historic Palestine under a League of Nations mandate. This ended on 14 May 1948, when amidst growing violence, Britain withdrew, and Israel declared itself a State. As a result, about 78% of Palestine was controlled by Israel, having forced some 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland. The remaining 22% of historic Palestine was administered by Egypt and Jordan. In 1967, Israeli forces seized all remaining Palestinian lands, expelling another 300,000 Palestinians.
Since 1947, the United Nations has asserted that there should be two states in historic Palestine – Israel and Palestine. However while Palestinians have limited Governance responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza, Israeretains control over all the lands. The UN categorises the West Bank and Gaza as under Occupation.
From the River to the Sea
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The context of language
Palestinians around the world state the chant is a call for freedom and equality for everyone between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, regardless of the political structure.
The phrase has been used by the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation) since the 1960’s to refer to a single democratic state for all people.
In 2012 a Hamas political leader said “Palestine is ours from the river to the sea”, stating that there would be no concession of any land within those boundaries. The 2017 Hamas charter asserts Palestine is one piece of land from the river to the sea while also speaking of a two state solution.