AntiRacism Australia is petitioning all 15 National Boards regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to include the words "antisemitism and antisemitic rhetoric (e.g “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”) into their existing code of conduct for each profession regulated by AHPRA.

We also petition for the implementation of consequences for registered practitioners violating their profession-specific code of conduct and social media policy. 

Recently, AntiRacism Australia's attention has been drawn to alarming content on social media where healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, and doctors, have publicly endorsed the slogan "From the river to the sea..." by attending pro-Palestine rallies in their workplace uniforms. Furthermore, we have received several reports of registered healthcare practitioners publicly displaying the slogan or hashtag on their social media accounts, which has generated fear amongst their Jewish colleagues and clients.

As individuals and as an incorporated association, we have received messages from Jewish and Israeli people who are fearful of seeking medical care due to a perceived surge in antisemitic behaviour amongst healthcare providers. Additionally, Jewish health care providers have informed us of their fear and reluctance to work in an environment where colleagues openly use the antisemitic phrase "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Antisemitism is racism directed towards a group of people - Jewish people - and as such, it directly contravenes the code of conduct for registered health practitioners, specifically in relation to culturally safe and respectful practice, and bullying and harassment. 

Health care providers publicly chanting a phrase that calls for the elimination of the State of Israel - the one Jewish homeland; and by promoting any other form of antisemitism on their social media platforms, are inciting fear within the Jewish community and are violating the principles they are obliged to uphold, including the social media policy for healthcare providers.

In addition to the above measures, we call on all 15 national boards regulated by AHPRA to immediately circulate communications to all registered clinical practitioners reminding them of their obligation to adhere to their relevant code of conduct and social media policy.

Why is this phrase antisemitic?

The phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”  calls for the establishment of a Palestinian State between the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which would ultimately replace the State of Israel, thereby denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination in their ancestral and modern homeland. 

This slogan has been popularised at Western demonstrations of support for the Free Palestine movement. Recent use has repurposed the phrase as an “aspirational call for freedom and human rights” (Rashida Tlaib, 4/11/2023), however this use is disingenuous and revisionist. This rallying cry has long been used by anti-Israel voices, including supporters of terrorist organisations such as Hamas and the PFLP, which seek Israel’s destruction through violent means. Its use instils fear in Jews and Israelis, who are familiar with its genocidal intentions and history.  

People who use this phrase are quick to point out that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism. However, anti-Zionism is opposition to the State of Israel which denies the Jewish people their right to a homeland and its defence. Anti-Zionism is often accompanied by antisemitic tropes and perpetuates false accusations about Jews and Israelis; demonisation of Jews; and the denial of historical connections to ancestral Israel. It is true that some Jews do not identify with Zionism, and even reject it, however the majority of Jews worldwide are Zionists or supporters of Israel. Within that majority, there is a full political spectrum of opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

It is important to note that demanding justice for Palestinians, or calling for a Palestinian state, is wholly legitimate in and of itself, however it crosses red lines when denying the right of Israel to exist.

AntiRacism Australia is a not-for-profit association established to address the alarming rise in racism, including antisemitism, within government-regulated professional bodies.

As our website is under construction, please follow us on Instagram (@antiracism_australia).

We can also be contacted by email via info@antiracismaustralia.com



AntiRacism Australia Inc. (INC2301325) is registered as an incorporated association in New South Wales under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009

We thank the human behind @clammy_fraud and another member of the community for their input into this petition. 

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and their connection to land, sea, culture and community. We would like to pay my respects to Aboriginal Elders both past and present.