Anti-Israeli slogan is spray painted on town’s promenade
A CONTROVERSIAL anti-Israeli slogan has been spray painted on the promenade of a South Wales town.
Written in red letters, the graffiti has led to a referral to the police.
The graffiti, which reads “from the river to the sea” was painted in red letters on Sunday, April 21, and was removed by the council the following day.
“Between the river and the sea” is part of a saying used by a variety of people with a host of purposes and is open to a number of interpretations.
Terrorist group Hamas, whose gunmen killed 1,400 people on October 7, claims the slogan in its rejection of Israel.
In October 2023, the then-Home Secretary wrote to chief constables of police forces in Wales and England and referenced the slogan.
Suella Braverman wrote: “I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated section 5 public order offence.”
We asked South Wales Police if it was investigating and if it would treat the graffiti as being antisemitic.
The response was: “South Wales Police has received a report of graffiti at Penarth Esplanade and enquiries are on-going.”
Councillor Rhys Thomas, who represents Plymouth ward in Penarth, said: “I am shocked and disgusted to see this vile racist slogan spraypainted in our town.
“Make no mistake – this is an overtly antisemitic slogan which is a call to genocide against the Jewish people.
“I have been in touch with the council and local police to ask for urgent action in identifying the culprit.
“I am proud to stand with Jewish people in Penarth and beyond.”
A Vale of Glamorgan council spokesman said the authority’s neighbourhood services team removed the graffiti on April 22 and footage of nearby CCTV cameras is now being reviewed.
“Any relevant footage or information will be passed to the police, the authority said.
Vale of Glamorgan council leader Lis Burnett said: “This graffiti will have been deeply upsetting for many people living in the Vale to see and I am proud our neighbourhood services team were able to respond so quickly and clean the paint from the Esplanade within hours of it being reported.
“Our council is working towards establishing the Vale as Wales’ first county of sanctuary and I hope this swift response, along with recent outpourings of support from communities in the Vale towards families fleeing conflicts across the world, will send a clear message that the Vale is a place led by hope and not hate.”