‘From the river to the sea’: Why a 6-word phrase sparks fury and passion over the Israel-Hamas war
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press
The Jordan River is a winding, 200-plus-mile run to the east of Israel and the occupied West Bank. The sea is the glittering Mediterranean to its west. But a phrase about the space in-between, “from the river to the sea,” has become a battle cry with new power to roil Jews and pro-Palestinian activists in the aftermath of Hamas’ deadly rampage across southern Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” chanted pro-Palestinian activists from London to Rome and Washington. Many Palestinian activists say it’s a call for freedom after 75 years of Israeli statehood. Jews hear a demand for Israel’s destruction.
