A popular chant at pro-Palestine protests, “From the river to the sea”, is one that undermines a two-state solution, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
Albanese said at a press conference on Monday that the chant was a slogan that calls for opposition to a two-state solution, which he repeated today at his Perth press conference when asked for his thoughts on the phrase.
Protesters chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at a protest in Melbourne last year.Credit: Chris Hopkins
“What I have said is that that phrase undermines a two-state solution, the government supports a two-state solution, it supports the right of Israel to live in peace and security within secure borders,” he said.
“We also support justice for Palestinians and the right for Palestinians to live with peace, security and prosperity.”
Asked if he is concerned about the Gaza conflict causing further radicalisation of children – in Perth last week, a 16-year-old stabbed a member of the public and was later shot dead by police, and is thought to have converted to Islam and become radicalised – Albanese said it was a difficult time.
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“It is a difficult time, but overwhelmingly Australians in our multicultural society do not want disputes brought here to Australia,” he said.
“I do want to congratulate WA Police on the actions that they took, I also want to acknowledge the leaders of the Muslim community here in Perth, who took strong action as well.
“We are concerned in a broader context as well. I’ve made the comment about social media, that social media can have a divisive impact, the use of algorithms can drive people towards more and more extreme views and that’s something that we need to have a discussion on.”