Labour MP: To claim ‘from the river’ chant is antisemitic is to misinterpret
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell also appears to suggest Israel would have been 'wiser' to pursue a strategy of 'negotiation' after Hamas massacre
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour’s John McDonnell has claimed that it is “a complete misinterpretation” to say the chant “from the river to the sea” is antisemitic.
In comments on Times Radio that will infuriate many in the Jewish community, the former shadow chancellor also appeared to suggest Israel would have been “wiser” to pursue a strategy of “negotiation” after the Hamas terrorist atrocities of October 7th “rather than a large scale attack.”
On Saturday McDonnell spoke for a second weekend in succession at the pro-Palestine protest in central London, where he was joined by another former shadow cabinet member Andy McDonald MP, and the MP Nadia Whittome, with the three of them defying Keir Starmer’s stance over Israel’s war with Hamas by holding up a sign reading “Ceasefire Now, End The Siege”.
Spoke today at demonstration for a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to bombing, land invasion, blockade & for the release of the hostages. With the killing of so many innocent civilians, including 2000 children we’re witnessing war crimes & to be silent is complicity. @PSCupdates pic.twitter.com/zLPHfDqTQj
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) October 28, 2023
In his speech at the demo, Andy McDonald, who stepped down from a shadow cabinet position after a policy disagreement with Starmer, was filmed telling around 150, 000 people on the demo:”We won’t rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river & the sea can live in peaceful liberty.”
The MP also appeared to play down the impact of the October 7th Hamas atrocities in his speech, as he said:”Many in our government want to tell us that this all started on October 7th and that is simply about retaliation against Hamas for the terrible crimes they committed on that day.
“But friends, we know that this is simply not the case.”
We say to the UK, American and Israeli governments: Enough!
Enough of the bombardment!
Enough of the siege!
Enough of the occupation!We won’t rest until we have justice.
Until all people, Israelis & Palestinians, between the river & the sea can live in peaceful liberty. pic.twitter.com/qRfHDreNr0
— Andy McDonald MP (@AndyMcDonaldMP) October 28, 2023
McDonald then read out an account from a Palestinian who claimed:”This is not about what happened with Hamas at all, it’s about ethnically cleansing Palestinian people.”
The Middlesbrough MP has a long history of involvement with pro-Palestine activists. Footage from 2015, shows him delivering a speech at a Teeside Palestine Solidarity Campaign march.
The march in Middlesbrough included frequent chants of “From The River To The Sea.”
He is also one of four Labour MPs yet to delete a social media post blaming Israel for the October 17th bombing of a hospital in Gaza, even though this has been disproven.
He recently claimed to have suspended an office employee for appearing to joke about the IRA assassination of King Charles’s great-uncle Lord Mountbatten.
Jewish News understands constituency caseworker Roisin Nic Lochlainn, an Irish republican sympathiser, also has a lengthy history of anti-Israel activity.
It is unclear if she still remains suspended from her role, after McDonald claimed to have suspended her earlier this month.
The Tory MP for Middlesborough South
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
