Sadiq Khan says 'From the river to the sea' chant is not antisemitic

The Mayor of London believed the phrase, which is frequently chanted at pro-Palestinian marches, depends on the context in which it is used.

But his critics labelled the Labour politician a "disgrace", arguing that the slogan calls for "wiping the world's only Jewish state of the map".

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Sir Sadiq made the comments a week after protests took place on the evening of the Manchester synagogue attack.

Susan Hall, the leader of the City Hall Conservatives, asked him during Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall: Do you think to scream ‘From the river to the sea’, which they’re doing during these hate marches, is appropriate? Do you think it is anti-Semitic?”

Sir Sadiq replied: “I don’t think it is anti-Semitic and I think it’s all about context.

"Some slogans can be anti-Semitic, but it’s all about context. And in certain contexts, yes, those slogans are anti-Semitic. In other contexts, they're not."

The full chant goes: "From the river to the sea. Palestine will be free."

It refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, where the state of Israel lies.

Pro-Palestinian supporters say the slogan refers to the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

But critics say it calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Sir James Cleverly, the shadow communities secretary, told the Telegraph" "‘From the River to the Sea’ is a chant that calls for wiping the world’s only Jewish state from the map. It is patently absurd to claim it is not anti-Semitic.

"Against a backdrop of regular hate marches on the streets of London, Sadiq Khan has once again let the capital’s Jewish community down."

Lord Austin, a former Labour minister who campaigns against antisemitism, said the chant "calls for the destruction of Israel and the murder of millions of its Jewish citizens".

He added that it was "disturbing" that the mayor was "siding with these racists and bigots".

Pro-Palestinian groups were criticised for holding protests against Israeli actions in Gaza on the evening of the Manchester synagogue attack.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood slammed organisers for allowing the protests to go ahead. calling them “un-British”.

Ms Hall claimed protesters at London's Liverpool Street station were “screaming chants at passing commuters”.

Addressing Sir Sadiq, she said: “Protesters could be heard chanting ‘From the river to the sea’ and describing Israel as a ‘terror state’. On the day of the Manchester terror attack, was that behaviour appropriate?”

He replied: “No, I don’t think it was.”

Asked if the behaviour of the protesters was antisemitic, Sir Sadiq replied: "“You’re asking a general question about individuals’ behaviour – I think it [their behaviour] is insensitive.”

A spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: “The mayor was saying that it’s not anti-Semitic to attend pro-Palestine protests."

"Some people consider the phrase ‘From the river to the sea’ to be anti-Semitic because it’s interpreted as calling for Israel to be wiped out completely – which clearly is anti-Semitic.

“Others argue that this is not what the chant is calling for or what they mean when they say it.

"The Mayor has repeatedly said over his mayoralty that those who protest should act lawfully, peacefully and safely.

"At a time of heightened fear for Jewish people he has also repeatedly said people should all be mindful of their words and how they impact other Londoners - and not use chants that make Jewish Londoners scared.”