Scottish Greens defend "from the river to sea" chant as death toll rises in Gaza conflict

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Scottish Greens have defended the use of a “vile” phrase which critics believe is a call for the destruction of Israel.

A party spokesperson defended Edinburgh Green councillor Alys Mumford who urged people to support freedom for Palestine “from the river to the sea”.

A variation of the phrase led to MP Andy McDonald getting suspended by Labour. Israel is at war with Hamas in Gaza after the terror group murdered over 1,000 Jews last month.But the response of the Israeli military, which has led to thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza, has also been internationally condemned.One issue that has sparked a fierce debate is the use of a slogan used by some pro-Palestianin supporters.The phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ is a reference to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.Supports say it is about Palestinians living as free and equal citizens, while detractors argue it is inflammatory.Mumford, a councillor for Portobello and Craigmillar, said at a recent rally:“It's so important that we're here because we are fighting against the cowardice of political leaders in the UK, who are too scared to call for peace, who are too scared to condemn the bombing of hospitals and refugee camps, who say it will be inappropriate to march for peace on Armistice Day.

That's why it's important that we are here saying with one voice, 'free Palestine' and it is working and it will work.”She concluded: “We need to fight against the fascism that tells us it is wrong to say we are pro-Palestine, that says it's wrong to congregate here, to say it's wrong to call for freedom.