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Globalize the Intifada

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Globalize the Intifada is a slogan that has been used for advocating for global activism in support of Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation. The term intifada being derived from the Arabic word nafada meaning to "shake off", refers to Palestinian uprisings or resistance against Israeli control, and 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 slogans 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.[4][5][6]

Intifada

This section is an excerpt from Intifada § History.[edit]
In the Palestinian context, the word refers to attempts to "shake off" the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the First and Second Intifadas,[7][8] where it was originally chosen to connote "aggressive nonviolent resistance",[9] a meaning it bore among Palestinian students in struggles in the 1980s and which they adopted as less confrontational than terms in earlier militant rhetoric since it bore no nuance of violence.[10] 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 with the relatively less violent nature of the First Intifada.

Background

Antiwar protesters in the United States during April 2002 held signs with the slogan in the wake of the Second Intifada and the Iraq war, as a form of racial justice and to protest US involvement in the region.[11]

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]

Usage

The slogan "Globalize the Intifada" has been used as a chant in various anti-Zionist protests, along with variations such as "There is only one solution, intifada revolution" or "Intifada until victory".[12][2][13][6] It has been used against the Israeli actions during the 2023 Hamas–Israel war.[6][14] Some opinion writers argue protesters using the slogan were supporters of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[15]

According to users of the slogan, the Palestinian intifada was chosen as a rallying cry for resistance against what they see as "colonial violence and oppression".[16]

In October 2023, pro-Palestinian protestors chanted "globalize the intifada" near a library building where some Jewish students took refuge in what has been characterized by critics as an antisemitic incident. New York City Mayor Eric Adams responded to the incident, affirming that hate has no place in New York City and emphasizing the right to peaceful protest.[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 had planned a march throughout the entire college ahead of time, argued the library had students of multiple backgrounds, and the march itself had Jewish students.[18]

In November 2023, pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, which supported the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, made a post headlined "Globalize the Intifada" with a map of Israeli and American companies and transit hubs. 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."[19]

In December 2023, the use of banners utilizing the slogan led to the arrest of nine in London under the Public Order Act.[20] In May 2024, a similar slogan, "Intifada, Revolution!", was used by pro-Palestinian protesters in central London, prompting an investigation by the Met Police.[21]

During a December 2023 congressional hearing with presidents of major universities, Elise Stefanik argued the use of the term was a call for genocide of Jewish people.[22]

Accusations of antisemitism

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][23][24] 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.[25][26][27][28] Following the 2023 death of Jewish-American Paul Kessler after a fatal altercation during duel pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests, Yair Lapid criticized the slogan and argued the protests were inherently hateful of Jewish peoples.[29]

Others argue that calls for intifada are not inherently violent, arguing that the term "Intifada" does not translate into genocide, can be more correctly translated into "uprising".[30][31][32][33] 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.[34] Some argue the target of Intifada is the Israeli occupation with the goal of Palestinian independence.[32][33]

See also

References

  1. ^ Henry, Jacob (April 22, 2022). "Pro-Palestinian protesters call to 'globalize the intifada' in NY march". The Jerusalem Post.
  2. ^ a b c Jerusalem Post Staff (October 22, 2022). "Mohamed Hadid shares 'Globalize Intifada' message on Instagram". The Jerusalem Post.
  3. ^ Mary K.Roberson, 'Birth, Transformation, and Death of Refugee Identity: Women and Girls of the Intifada,' in Ellen Cole,Esther D Rothblum,Oliva M Espin (eds.) Refugee Women and Their Mental Health: Shattered Societies, Shattered Lives, Routledge, 2013 p.42.
  4. ^ "Amid terror wave in Israel, New York BDS group calls to 'globalize intifada' at rally". JNS. March 31, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Pro-Palestinian NYC Rally Features "Globalize the Intifada" Chants". Jewish Journal. 2 August 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Luke Tress (October 25, 2023). "Antisemitic incidents have spiked in New York since Hamas attack on Israel, NYPD says". The Forward.
  7. ^ Ute Meinel, Die Intifada im Ölscheichtum Bahrain: Hintergründe des Aufbegehrens von 1994–1998, LIT Verlag Münster, 2003 p.10: 'Der Begriff der Intifada, der die Vorstellung eines legitimen Ausbebegehrens gegen Unterdrückung enthält, ist gegenwärtig ein Schlüsselbegriff in der arabischen Welt, von dem eine grosse emotionale Anziehungskraft ausgeht.' (transl. 'The concept of the Intifada, which contains the idea of a legitimate protest against oppression, is currently a key concept in the Arab world and has a great emotional appeal')
  8. ^ Sharif Kanana, 'Women in the Legends of the Intifada,' in Suha Sabbagh (ed.), Palestinian Women of Gaza and the West Bank, Indiana University Press, 1998 p.114.
  9. ^ Mary K.Roberson, 'Birth, Transformation, and Death of Refugee Identity: Women and Girls of the Intifada,' in Ellen Cole, Esther D Rothblum, Oliva M Espin (eds.) Refugee Women and Their Mental Health: Shattered Societies, Shattered Lives, Routledge, 2013 p.42.
  10. ^ Mary Elizabeth King, A Quiet Revolution: The First Palestinian Intifada and Nonviolent Resistance, Nation Books 2007 p.208
  11. ^ Gilbert, Ronnie (September 2004). "Globalize the Intifada". Wrestling with Zion: Progressive Jewish-American Responses to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and: One Palestine, Complete: Jews and Arabs under the British Mandate (review). Vol. 6. pp. 145–147. doi:10.1353/fge.2004.0034. ISSN 1544-1733. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-05-12. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ a b "Anti-semitic row in teachers' union: Discovery of rally video has sparked demands for investigation into secretary who 'incited violence' [edition 2]". The Sunday Telegraph. 2023-04-02. ProQuest 2793570609. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  13. ^ Tress, L. (2022-04-01). "'Intifada until victory': Pro-palestinian demonstrators rally in new york". The Times of Israel. ProQuest 2645662235. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  14. ^ Breuer, E. (2021). "New York protestors wield Palestinian flags, endorse 'global intifada': Groups including Within Our Lifetime and Occupy Wall Street affiliates marched in New York City on Friday calling to smash the "settler Zionist state" and calling to "globalize the intifada."". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 2574535882. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Matthew Foldi (October 9, 2023). "Pro-Hamas protests sweep the US". The Spectator.
  16. ^ "Globalize Intifada: Pro-Palestine Protesters March in New York". Palestine Chronicle. 19 September 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  17. ^ Ben Clerkin (October 26, 2023). "Jewish students lock themselves in library as protestors march through campus". The Jewish Chronicle.
  18. ^ a b Rozner, Lisa (2023-10-26). "Pro-Palestinian rally at Cooper Union leads to tense moments at school library - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  19. ^ Tress, Luke (2023-11-17). "US pro-Palestinian group blasted for map of Jewish groups with 'blood on their hands'". New York Jewish Week. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  20. ^ Cooney, Christy (2023-12-05). "Nine arrested over pro-Palestinian banner in London". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  21. ^ "London pro-Palestine marchers call for 'Intifada, Revolution!', London Police investigating". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  22. ^ "How are Harvard, Penn presidents responding to campus anti-Semitism row?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  23. ^ "Stop and Think: Anti-Israel Chants and What They Mean". ADL. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  24. ^ "Jewish Group Slams New York City Protest Calling to 'Globalize the Intifada'". Algemeiner. August 1, 2021.
  25. ^ David Hazony (October–November 2023). "The War Against the Jews". Sapir Journal.
  26. ^ Zev Eleff; Ayal Feinberg (October 13, 2023). "Endorsing Hamas violence isn't just anti-Israel, it's antisemitic". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  27. ^ "NYC School Barricades Jewish Students While Activists Call for Blood". LNN News. October 26, 2023.
  28. ^ Berman, Nora (April 1, 2022). "Activists are calling to 'globalize the intifada.' It's a call for death, not peace". Forward.
  29. ^ Phil Helsel; Todd Miyazawa (November 7, 2023). "Man dies after hitting head at Israel-Palestinian rallies in California, officials say". NBC News.
  30. ^ Cantey, Seth (2023-12-14). "What a congressional hearing got wrong: Calls for intifada are not calls for genocide". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  31. ^ Flakin, Nathaniel (2023-12-14). "No, Intifada Does Not Mean Genocide Against Jews". Left Voice. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  32. ^ a b Kuttab, Daoud (2023-12-12). "Opinion: Reality check — intifada has nothing to do with genocide of Jews". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  33. ^ a b "Palestine Remix". Palestine Remix. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  34. ^ Fox, Mira (2023-12-15). "So what does 'intifada' actually mean?". The Forward. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
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