A top official in Spain is adopting a phrase about Palestinian territory many consider to be antisemitic.
On Thursday evening, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda DĆaz released a video and used the phrase āfrom the river to the sea.ā
āWe live at a time in world history where doing the bare minimum is both heroic and insufficient,ā DĆaz said.
She added, āThat is why we cannot stop. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.ā
Watch the video below:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) notes, āāFrom the river to the sea, Palestine will be freeā is an antisemitic slogan commonly featured in anti-Israel campaigns and chanted at demonstrations.ā
āThis rallying cry has long been used by anti-Israel voices, including supporters of terrorist organizations such asĀ HamasĀ and the PFLP, which seek Israelās destruction through violent means,ā it continued. āIt is fundamentally a callĀ for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that includes the State of Israel, which would mean theĀ dismantling of the Jewish state.Ā It is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland.ā
According to the ADL, the slogan āhas the effect of making members of the Jewish and pro-Israel community feel unsafe and ostracized.ā
In a post on X,Israelās embassy in Madrid responded to DĆazās and said it ācompletely rejects Yolanda DĆazās statements.ā
It added the slogan āis a clear call for the destruction of Israel, fomenting hate and violence. Antisemitic statements are incompatible with a democratic society and it is unacceptable coming from a deputy prime minister. We hope Spain will live up to its promiseā to combat antisemitism.
DĆazās video comes as Spain, Norway, and Ireland moved to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
