Chant ‘from the river to the sea’ deeply offensive to many, says Downing Street

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, he stressed: “I can understand how the use of that language and others will be of significant concern to many.” His comments come after some pro-Palestinian protesters chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during recent demonstrations in London, despite controversy around the slogan’s meaning. “Obviously it’s up to the police to make an operational decision about the use of that language if they see fit to do so, but I can understand how the use of that language and others will be of significant concern to many.” He added: “Right now, communities across Britain, Jewish communities across Britain, need to be reassured that police and indeed the wider Government, national and local are protecting them because these will be deeply concerning times after a traumatic terror event.” Education minister Robert Halfon, who is Jewish, told Times Radio that hearing the phrase being chanted was “horrific” and “scary”, adding: “It’s frightening for Jewish people in England at the moment, you know. The Community Security Trust suggested it has gone up by over 400% since October 7 Robert Halfon “When you hear that Jewish schools have to close their doors, when you hear of students, I am the universities minister as well, I get messages from Jewish chaplaincy service in higher education that Jewish students are having Palestinian flags draped over their cars or doors knocked on of the Jewish chaplain with people knocking on doors saying ‘we know where you live’. “The Community Security Trust suggested it has gone up by over 400% since October 7.” On what action Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer should take after Mr McDonald used the phrase, Mr Halfon told LBC: “Well, I’m absolutely not going to get involved in what goes on in the Labour Party.