The Jordan River is a winding, 200-plus-mile run on the eastern flank of Israel and the occupied West Bank. The sea is the glittering Mediterranean to its west.
But a phrase about the space in between, “from the river to the sea,” has become a battle cry with new power to roil Jews and pro-Palestinian activists in the aftermath of Hamas' deadly rampage across southern Israel Oct. 7 and Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
kAmQuC@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62[ !2=6DE:?6 H:== 36 7C66[Q AC@\!2=6DE:?:2? 24E:G:DED 7C@> {@?5@? E@ #@>6 2?5 (2D9:?8E@? 492?E65 :? E96 G@=2E:=6 27E6C>2E9 @7 xDC26=VD 3=@@5:6DE 52J] p5@AE:?8 @C 5676?5:?8 :E 42? 36 4@DE=J 7@C AF3=:4 7:8FC6D[ DF49 2D &]$] #6A] #2D9:52 %=2:3[ H9@ H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@?8C6DD\9@FD6\46?DFC6\C6D@=FE:@?\E=2:3\g_gd`gh_cf2c4c_7a5cc252ce_c22_feQm46?DFC65 3J E96 w@FD6 @? %F6D52Jk^2m]k^Am
kAmqFE =:<6 D@ >F49 @7 E96 |:562DE 4@?7=:4E[ H92E E96 A9C2D6 >62?D 56A6?5D @? H9@ :D E6==:?8 E96 DE@CJ — 2?5 H9:49 2F5:6?46 :D 962C:?8 :E]k^Am
kAm|2?J !2=6DE:?:2? 24E:G:DED D2J :EVD 2 42== 7@C A6246 2?5 6BF2=:EJ 27E6C fd J62CD @7 xDC26=: DE2E69@@5 2?5 564256D\=@?8[ @A6?\6?565 xDC26=: >:=:E2CJ CF=6 @G6C >:==:@?D @7 !2=6DE:?:2?D] y6HD 962C 2 4=62C 56>2?5 7@C xDC26=VD 56DECF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm%9:D >F49 :D 4=62Ci w2>2D 7:89E6CD <:==65 >@C6 E92? `[c__ A6@A=6 :? xDC26= 2?5 92F=65 2E =62DE ac_ 324< E@ v2K2 2D 9@DE286D :? E96 H@CDE G:@=6?46 282:?DE y6HD D:?46 E96 w@=@42FDE] xDC26= C6DA@?565 H:E9 962GJ 3@>32C5>6?E @7 v2K2 2?5 2 8C@F?5 @776?D:G6[ E92E 92D <:==65 >@C6 E92? ``[___ !2=6DE:?:2?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 w62=E9 |:?:DECJ :? w2>2D\CF? v2K2] %96 562E9 E@== :D 46CE2:? E@ C:D6] %96 C6DF=E :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:DC26=\92>2D\H2C\562E9\E@==\?F>36CD\:?;FC65\d4h54c_364hd2gc_g4gb7b4a73fdh52_QmE96 5625=:6DE C@F?5 @7 xDC26=:\!2=6DE:?:2? 7:89E:?8 :? 564256D]k^2mk^Am
kAmx? E96 C2H 27E6C3FC? @7 E96 w2>2D 2EE24<D[ E96 492?E D66>D E@ AFE 6G6CJ@?6 @? 6586]k^Am
k9am${~vp} ps~!%ts q* wp|p$k^9am
kAm“uC@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62” 649@6D E9C@F89 AC@\!2=6DE:?:2? C2==:6D 24C@DD 42>AFD6D 2?5 4:E:6D[ 25@AE65 3J D@>6 2D 2 42== 7@C 2 D:?8=6 DE2E6 @? E96 =2?5 36EH66? E96 y@C52? #:G6C 2?5 E96 |65:E6CC2?62?]k^Am
kAmqJ a_`a[ :E H2D 4=62C E92E w2>2D 925 4=2:>65 E96 D=@82? :? :ED 5C:G6 E@ 4=2:> =2?5 DA2??:?8 xDC26=[ E96 v2K2 $EC:A 2?5 E96 (6DE q2?<]k^Am
kAm“!2=6DE:?6 :D @FCD 7C@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62 2?5 7C@> E96 D@FE9 E@ E96 ?@CE9[Q z92=65 |2D922=[ E96 8C@FAVD 7@C>6C =6256C[ D2:5 E92E J62C :? 2 DA6649 :? v2K2 46=63C2E:?8 E96 adE9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 7@F?5:?8 @7 w2>2D] Q%96C6 H:== 36 ?@ 4@?46DD:@? @? 2?J :?49 @7 E96 =2?5]”k^Am
kAm%96 A9C2D6 2=D@ 92D C@@ED :? E96 w2>2D 492CE6C]k^Am
kAm%96 DE@CJ 369:?5 E96 A9C2D6 :D >F49 =2C86C[ 2?5 C62496D 24C@DD E96 564256D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 >@?E9D 367@C6 2?5 5FC:?8 E96 `hcg H2C[ 2? 6DE:>2E65 f__[___ !2=6DE:?:2?D 7=65 @C H6C6 6IA6==65 7C@> H92E :D ?@H xDC26=] |2?J 6IA64E65 E@ C6EFC?] xDC26= 42AEFC65 E96 (6DE q2?<[ 2=@?8 H:E9 v2K2 2?5 62DE y6CFD2=6>[ :? E96 `hef H2C] x? a__d[ xDC26= H:E95C6H 7C@> v2K2[ 2?5 :? a__f[ w2>2D 4=2:>65 E96 E:?J DEC:A 7C@> E96 !2=6DE:?:2? pFE9@C:EJ 27E6C 2 G:@=6?E 4@FA]k^Am
k9am(wp% yt($ $p* %wt* wtp#k^9am
kAmtG6? E96 D9@CE92?5[ “7C@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62[” 649@6D E9C@F89 AC@\!2=6DE:?:2? AC@E6DED[ 4C24<=6D 24C@DD D@4:2= >65:2 2?5 :D 2G2:=23=6 @? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 >6C49[ 7C@> DH62ED9:CED E@ 42?5=6D]k^Am
kAmpD< y6H:D9 A6@A=6 :? {@?5@? H92EVD D@ 49:==65 E96> 23@FE E96 4FCC6?E DA:<6 :? 2?E:D6>:E:D>[ 2?5 >2?J H:== 4:E6 H92E D66>D =:<6 E96 F3:BF:EJ @7 E96 D=@82?] xE :D 2 D:8?[ E96 DF886DE[ E92E E96C6VD >F49 E@ 762C]k^Am
kAm“w2G6 ?@ 5@F3E E92E w2>2D :D 4966C:?8 E9@D6 ‘7C@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62’ 492?ED[ 3642FD6 2 !2=6DE:?6 36EH66? E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62 =62G6D ?@E 2 D:?8=6 :?49 7@C xDC26=[Q C625 2? @A6? =6EE6C D:8?65 3J b_ y6H:D9 ?6HD @FE=6ED 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 2?5 C6=62D65 @? (65?6D52J]k^Am
kAmp?5 :? E96 H2<6 @7 w2>2DV <:==:?8 @7 4:G:=:2?D @? ~4E] f[ E96JVC6 ?@E 3FJ:?8 E92E E96 492?E :D >6C6=J 2?E:\xDC26=] q24<65 3J 8C@FAD DF49 2D E96 p?E:\s672>2E:@? {628F6[ E96J D2J :EVD :?96C6?E=J 2?E:\y6H:D9]k^Am
kAm“}@ @?6 42? ?@H D2J E92E :? E96 6J6D @7 w2>2D[ 2 92EC65 @7 xDC26= 5@6D ?@E >62? 2 92EC65 @7 2== y6HD[” D2:5 {@?5@? C6D:56?E $2C29 }249D96?] “%96 D=@82?D 2?5 A=242C5D 2?5 492?ED 42==:?8 7@C E96 6C25:42E:@? @7 xDC26= 2?5[ :?5665[ 2== y6HD 92G6 4=62C=J D9@H? E9:D]”k^Am
k9am(wp% !p{t$%x}xp} pr%x'x$%$ $p*k^9am
kAm%=2:3[ s\|:49][ H9@ 92D 72>:=J :? E96 (6DE q2?< 2?5 :D r@?8C6DDV @?=J !2=6DE:?:2?\p>6C:42?[ A@DE65 2 G:56@ }@G] b E92E 762EFC65 AC@E6DE6CD 492?E:?8 E96 D=@82?]k^Am
kAm}@ DEC2?86C E@ 4C:E:4:D> @G6C 96C C96E@C:4 @? E96 &]$]\xDC26= C6=2E:@?D9:A[ %=2:3 5676?565 E96 D=@82?]k^Am
kAm“uC@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62 :D 2? 2DA:C2E:@?2= 42== 7@C 7C665@>[ 9F>2? C:89ED[ 2?5 A62467F= 4@6I:DE6?46[ ?@E 562E9[ 56DECF4E:@?[ @C 92E6[” %=2:3 EH66E65[ 42FE:@?:?8 E92E 4@?7=2E:?8 2?E:\xDC26= D6?E:>6?E H:E9 2?E:D6>:E:D> “D:=6?46WDX 5:G6CD6 G@:46D DA62<:?8 FA 7@C 9F>2? C:89ED]”k^Am
kAm%H66E65 *@FD67 |F?2JJ6C[ 9625 @7 E96 !2=6DE:?6^xDC26= !C@8C2> 2?5 2 D6?:@C u6==@H 2E pC23 r6?E6C (2D9:?8E@?i “%96C6 :D?’E 2 DBF2C6 :?49 @7 E96 =2?5 36EH66? E96 C:G6C 2?5 E96 D62 H96C6 !2=6DE:?:2?D 92G6 7C665@>[ ;FDE:46 2?5 6BF2=:EJ[ 2?5 :E 92D ?6G6C 366? >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E@ 6>A92D:K6 E9:D E92? C:89E ?@H]”k^Am
k9amp %(~\$%p%t $~{&%x~}k^9am
kAm|@DE @7 E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4@>>F?:EJ DFAA@CED 2 EH@\DE2E6 D@=FE:@?[ H9:49 42==D 7@C E96 A2CE:E:@? @7 E96 =2?5] %@ >2?J[ E9@F89[ 564256D @7 xDC26=: D6EE=6>6?E 6IA2?D:@? 92G6 >256 E96 C62=:EJ @7 2 EH@\DE2E6 D@=FE:@? :>A@DD:3=6]k^Am
kAm#:89E\H:?8 xDC26=:D 92G6 3=FCC65 E96 =:?6D 36EH66? xDC26= 2?5 E96 (6DE q2?<[ H96C6 92=7 2 >:==:@? A6@A=6 ?@H =:G6 :? D6EE=6>6?ED] |2?J :? E96 xDC26=: 8@G6C?>6?E DFAA@CE E96 2??6I2E:@? @7 E96 (6DE q2?<[ 2?5 @77:4:2= 8@G6C?>6?E >2AD @7E6? >2<6 ?@ >6?E:@? @7 E96 “8C66? =:?6” 3@F?52CJ 36EH66? E96 EH@]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96 @C:8:?2= A=2E7@C> @7 !C:>6 |:?:DE6C q6?;2>:? }6E2?J29FVD A2CEJ[ {:<F5[ AF3=:D965 2 G6CD:@? @7 E96 D=@82?[ D2J:?8 E92E 36EH66? E96 D62 2?5 E96 y@C52? #:G6C[ QE96C6 H:== @?=J 36 xDC26=: D@G6C6:8?EJ]”k^Am
k9am%wt #x$z ~u %wt ${~vp}k^9am
kAm&D:?8 E96 A9C2D6 7@C AF3=:4 7:8FC6D 42? 36 4@DE=J] %=2:3VD 46?DFC6 :D 2 AF?:D9>6?E @?6 DE6A D9@CE @7 6IAF=D:@? 7C@> E96 w@FD6]k^Am
kAm{2DE >@?E9[ ':6??2 A@=:46 32??65 2 AC@\!2=6DE:?:2? 56>@?DEC2E:@?[ 4:E:?8 E96 724E E92E E96 A9C2D6 “7C@> E96 C:G6C E@ E96 D62” H2D >6?E:@?65 :? :?G:E2E:@?D 2?5 492C24E6C:K:?8 :E 2D 2 42== E@ G:@=6?46]k^Am
kAmp?5 :? qC:E2:?[ E96 {23@FC A2CEJ :DDF65 2 E6>A@C2CJ AF?:D9>6?E E@ 2 >6>36C @7 !2C=:2>6?E[ p?5J |4s@?2=5[ 7@C FD:?8 E96 A9C2D6 5FC:?8 2 C2==J 2E H9:49 96 42==65 7@C 2 DE@A E@ 3@>32C5>6?E]k^Am
kAm“(6 H@?’E C6DE F?E:= H6 92G6 ;FDE:46] &?E:= 2== A6@A=6[ xDC26=:D U2>Aj !2=6DE:?:2?D[ 36EH66? E96 C:G6C U2>Aj E96 D62 42? =:G6 :? A62467F= =:36CEJ[Q 96 EH66E65]k^Am
kAm%96? 96 6IA=2:?65i “%96D6 H@C5D D9@F=5 ?@E 36 4@?DECF65 :? 2?J @E96C H2J E92? E96J H6C6 :?E6?565[ ?2>6=J 2D 2 962CE 76=E A=62 7@C 2? 6?5 E@ <:==:?8D :? xDC26=[ v2K2[ 2?5 E96 @44FA:65 (6DE q2?<[ 2?5 7@C 2== A6@A=6D :? E96 C68:@? E@ =:G6 :? 7C665@> H:E9@FE E96 E9C62E @7 G:@=6?46]Q 000k^Am
kAmu@==@H z6==>2? 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]EH:EE6C]4@>^p!{2FC:6z6==>2?Qm9EEAi^^HHH]EH:EE6C]4@>^p!{2FC:6z6==>2?k^2mk^Am
