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Globalize the intifada
Palestinian resistance slogan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Globalize the intifada" is an anti-Zionist, anti-colonial, anti-imperial slogan that has been used to advocate for international support of Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation as well as various other causes users of the phrase see as tied to the Palestinian cause. The Arabic word intifada (Arabic: اِنْتِفَاضَة intifāḍa), derived from the root ن ف ض (n f ḍ), means 'a shaking off' and can refer to a popular uprising or rebellion.
In the context of Palestine, it refers to Palestinian uprisings or resistance against Israel; the call to "globalize" it suggests extending the spirit and actions of these uprisings beyond the regional context to a worldwide movement.[1][2][3]
The slogan and related chants have been a subject of controversy and discussion regarding their impact and implications. The slogan has been criticized by some Jewish groups as inciting political violence, terrorism, and antisemitism.[4][5][6]
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Intifada
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Morphology
Intifāḍa (انتفاضة) is an Arabic maṣdar (مصدر), or verbal noun, of instance (اسم مرة ism marra) of the verb intafaḍa (انتفض), derived from the triconsonantal Semitic root n-f-ḍ (ن-ف-ض) related to shaking (off), dusting (off), and making something shiver.[7]: 1157 The verb انتفض intafaḍa is in the verb form اِفْتَعَلَ iftaʿala, referred to in Western sources as 'form VIII,' denoting reflexivity."[7]: 1157
Meaning
The Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic gives the meaning of the verb انتفض intafaḍa as: "to be shaken off, be dusted off; to shake; to shudder, shiver, tremble (jo with); to sheke of from oneself (i s.th.); to wake up, come to consciousness," and of its verbal noun انتفاضة intifāḍa as a "shiver, shudder, tremor; awakening (pol.); popular uprising."[7]: 1157
In the context of Palestine, the word intifada refers to attempts to "shake off" the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the First and Second Intifadas.[8][9] The term was originally chosen to signify "aggressive nonviolent resistance";[10] in the 1980s, Palestinian students adopted intifada as less confrontational than terms in earlier militant rhetoric since it bore no connotation of violence.[11] The First Intifada was characterized by protests, general strikes, economic boycotts, and riots, including the widespread throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails at the Israeli army and its infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza. The Second Intifada was characterized by a period of heightened violence. The suicide bombings carried out by Palestinian assailants became one of the more prominent features of the Second Intifada and mainly targeted Israeli civilians, contrasting the relatively less violent nature of the First Intifada.
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Usage
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The slogan "globalize the intifada" has been used as a chant in various anti-Zionist protests, along with variations like "there is only one solution, intifada revolution" and "intifada until victory".[12][2][13][6] It has been used as a denunciation of Israel's actions during the Gaza war.[6][14] According to users of the slogan, it was chosen as a rallying cry for resistance against what they see as "colonial violence and oppression".[15]
In April 2002, antiwar protesters in the United States held signs with slogans reflecting their concerns about racial justice and US involvement in the Middle East, including the Second Intifada and the Iraqi conflict.[16]
Soon after the October 7 attacks in 2023, pro-Palestinian protesters chanted "globalize the intifada" near a Cooper Union library where some Jewish students were gathering, sparking accusations of antisemitism from New York City and national leaders. New York City mayor Eric Adams responded to the incident, affirming that hate—in this case, anti-Jewish hate—has no place in New York City, emphasizing the right to peaceful protest but not the normalization of antisemitism.[17] The NYPD later released a statement that students were not barricaded within the library and that the protest had been pre-planned.[18] Pro-Palestinian protesters, who said they had planned a march throughout the college ahead of time, argued that the library contained students of diverse backgrounds at the time of the march and that the march itself had included some Jewish students.[18]
In November 2023, pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, which supported the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel,[19] made a post headlined with "Globalize the Intifada" showing a map of Israeli and American companies and transit hubs, implying they were worthwhile targets. The post was condemned by elected officials in New York City and by Jewish groups as "a dangerous and abhorrent incitement to violence and poses a direct threat to New York’s Jewish communities."[20]
In December 2023, the use of banners utilizing the slogan led to the arrest of nine individuals in London under the Public Order Act 1986.[21] In May 2024, a similar slogan—"Intifada, Revolution!"—was used by pro-Palestinian protesters in central London, prompting an investigation by the Met Police.[22]
2025 New York City mayoral election
In June 2025, during the 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary, Zohran Mamdani was asked about the phrase "globalize the intifada" in an interview for The Bulwark. He described it as a symbolic call for Palestinian human rights, not for violence or antisemitism, adding, "These words have different meanings for many different people ... I've been clear that any incitement to violence is something that I'm in opposition to."[23] He said the word "intifada" had been used by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Arabic translations referring to Jewish resistance during World War II.[23][24][25] When asked about the phrase again on The Brian Lehrer Show later that month, he added, "That is not language that I use. The language that I use is that of clarity, and I do not believe it is the mayor’s position to be policing language."[26]
Mamdani's statements in the interview with The Bulwark were condemned by the USHMM itself and by Jewish public figures, including US representatives Ted Deutch and Dan Goldman, Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League, former World Jewish Congress vice president Marc Schneier, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, and The Atlantic columnist Jonathan Chait.[27][25][24][28] In a statement that did not name Mamdani, the USHMM said, "Exploiting the museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitize 'Globalize the Intifada' is outrageous and especially offensive to survivors. Since 1987, Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn its use and the abuse of history."[24] Brad Lander, Jewish New York City Comptroller and fellow mayoral candidate, defended Mamdani, saying, "I don't like the phrase ... but I do believe he will protect Jewish New Yorkers and our rights."[29][27][30]
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Criticism
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Both the Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee interpret the slogan as endorsing acts of terrorism and indiscriminate violence against Israelis and Jews worldwide.[5][31] According to The Sunday Telegraph, the phrase has been associated with incitement of violence against Jewish communities.[12] Some Jewish writers including David Hazony have interpreted the use of the slogan not just as a challenge to Israel but as being a broader declaration of war against Jews, promoting antisemitism, and calling for violence instead of peace.[32][33][34][35] Following the 2023 death of Jewish-American Paul Kessler after a fatal altercation during dual pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests, Prime Minister of Israel Yair Lapid criticized the slogan and argued the protests were inherently hateful of Jewish peoples.[36]
During a December 2023 United States congressional hearing with presidents of major universities, representative Elise Stefanik argued the use of the term was a call for genocide of Jewish people.[37]
The call to "globalize" the Intifada through protests and social media posts is seen by critics as an endorsement of past uprisings and a call for their expansion on a global scale.[2] During the Gaza war, some opinion writers argued protesters using the slogan were supporters of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[38]
Defense
Others argue that calls for intifada are not inherently violent, arguing that the term "Intifada" does not translate into genocide, being more correctly translated into "uprising".[39][40][41][42] According to The Forward, though many Jews consider the term to be violent, Palestinians associate "Intifada" with the First Intifada, which was largely non-violent.[43] Some argue the target of "intifada" is the Israeli occupation with the goal of Palestinian independence.[41][42]
See also
References
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