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Globalize the intifada

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"Globalize the intifada" is an anti-Zionist 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 n-f-ḍ (ن-ف-ض), 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]

Intifada

Main article: intifada
See also: First Palestinian Intifada and Second Palestinian Intifada
This section is an excerpt from Intifada.

Morphology

Intifāḍa (انتفاضة) is an Arabic verbal noun (مصدر maṣdar) of instance [ar] (اسم مرة ism marra [ar]) 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; to shake off from oneself; to wake up, come to consciousness," as in "انتفض من سباته to shake off one's lethargy," and of its verbal noun انتفاضة intifāḍa (pl. انتفاضات intifāḍāt) 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.

The First Intifada lasted from 1987 to 1993. The Second Intifada started with the October 2000 protests in Israel and continued until 2005. The term Third Intifada has been variously used to describe 2014 Jerusalem unrest, the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, the 2023+ Gaza war and other events.

Usage

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] According to users of the slogan, it was chosen as a rallying cry for resistance against what they see as "colonial violence and oppression".[14]

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.[15] The slogan has been frequently used by Jewish Voice for Peace.[16]

It has been used as a denunciation of Israel's actions during the Gaza war.[6][17]

Soon after the October 7 attacks in 2023, pro-Palestinian protesters chanted slogans including "globalize the intifada" near a Cooper Union library, sparking accusations of antisemitism from New York City and national leaders, including New York City mayor Eric Adams.[18][19]

In November 2023, the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, which supported the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel,[20] posted to Instagram a map of Midtown Manhattan with the headline "Globalize the Intifada". The map contained annotations for locations of Israeli and American companies, along with other points of interest, calling them "location[s] of an office of an enemy of both the Palestinian people and colonized people all over the world", implying they are legitimate 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."[21]

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.[22] In May 2024, a similar slogan—"Intifada, Revolution!"—was used by pro-Palestinian protesters in central London, prompting an investigation by the Met Police.[23]

In 2025, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was asked about the phrase in an interview; he described it as a symbolic call for Palestinian human rights, not for violence or antisemitism.[24] He said the word "intifada" had been used by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Arabic translations referring to Jewish resistance in German-occupied Europe.[24][25][26] The USHMM repudiated any invocation of Jewish resistance in WWII to justify the slogan,[25] and Mamdani's statements were condemned 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][26][25][28] Brad Lander, Jewish New York City Comptroller and fellow mayoral candidate, defended Mamdani.[29][27][30] In a subsequent interview, Mamdani said that although he did not use the phrase, he did not want to police language.[31]

Criticism

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. According to The Sunday Telegraph, the phrase has been associated with incitement of violence against Jewish communities.[12] 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][32]

In October 2023, Matthew Foldi of The Spectator asserted that protesters using the slogan were supporters of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[33] Some Jewish writers, including David Hazony, Zev Eleff, Ayal Feinberg and Nora Berman, 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.[34][35][16] 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 asserted that the use of the term was a call for genocide of Jewish people,[37][38][39] a position rejected by journalist Daoud Kuttab, academics Seth Cantey, Zinaida Miller and Seth Mandery and others, who noted that the term simply means "uprising".[40][41][42][43][44]

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".[40][45] Daniel Lefkowitz of the University of Virginia hypothesizes that, though Israelis and many Jews consider the term to be violent, Palestinians associate "Intifada" with the First Intifada, which was largely non-violent; however, Palestinians also attacked Israelis.[46] Some argue the target of "intifada" is the Israeli occupation with the goal of Palestinian independence.[40]

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 "Mohamed Hadid shares 'Globalize Intifada' message on Instagram". The Jerusalem Post. October 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Roberson, Mary K. (2013). "Birth, Transformation, and Death of Refugee Identity: Women and Girls of the Intifada". In Cole, Ellen; Rothblum, Esther D.; Espin, Oliva M. (eds.). Refugee Women and Their Mental Health: Shattered Societies, Shattered Lives. Routledge. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-135-83760-0.
  4. ^ "Amid terror wave in Israel, New York BDS group calls to 'globalize intifada' at rally". JNS. March 31, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Bandler, Aaron (August 2, 2021). "Pro-Palestinian NYC Rally Features "Globalize the Intifada" Chants". Jewish Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Tress, Luke (October 25, 2023). "Antisemitic incidents have spiked in New York since Hamas attack on Israel, NYPD says". The Forward.
  7. ^ a b c Wehr, Hans; Cowan, J. Milton (1976). A dictionary of modern written Arabic. Thomas Leiper Kane Collection (Library of Congress. Hebraic Section) (4th ed.). Ithaca, N.Y: Spoken Language Services. ISBN 978-0-87950-001-6.
  8. ^ 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')
  9. ^ Kanana, Sharif (1998). "Women in the Legends of the Intifada". In Sabbagh, Suha (ed.). Palestinian Women of Gaza and the West Bank. Indiana University Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-253-11568-3.
  10. ^ Roberson, Mary K. (2013). "Birth, Transformation, and Death of Refugee Identity: Women and Girls of the Intifada". In Cole, Ellen; Rothblum, Esther D.; Espin, Oliva M. (eds.). Refugee Women and Their Mental Health: Shattered Societies, Shattered Lives. Routledge. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-135-83760-0.
  11. ^ King, Mary Elizabeth (2007). A Quiet Revolution: The First Palestinian Intifada and Nonviolent Resistance. Nation Books. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-7867-3326-2.
  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. April 2, 2023. ProQuest 2793570609. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Tress, L. (April 1, 2022). "'Intifada until victory': Pro-palestinian demonstrators rally in new york". The Times of Israel. ProQuest 2645662235. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Globalize Intifada: Pro-Palestine Protesters March in New York". Palestine Chronicle. September 19, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Kaplan, Esther (2003). "Globalize the Intifada". In Kushner, Tony; Solomon, Alisa (eds.). Wrestling with Zion: Progressive Jewish-American Responses to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Grove Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-0802140159.
  16. ^ a b Berman, Nora (April 1, 2022). "Activists are calling to 'globalize the intifada.' It's a call for death, not peace". Forward.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Rozner, Lisa (October 26, 2023). "Pro-Palestinian rally at Cooper Union leads to tense moments at school library". CBS News New York. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Clerkin, Ben (October 26, 2023). "Jewish students lock themselves in library as protestors march through campus". The Jewish Chronicle.
  20. ^ Tress, Luke (June 21, 2025). "What is Within Our Lifetime, the group behind NY's most extreme anti-Israel protests?". The Times of Israel. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  21. ^ Tress, Luke (November 17, 2023). "US pro-Palestinian group blasted for map of Jewish groups with 'blood on their hands'". New York Jewish Week. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  22. ^ Cooney, Christy (December 5, 2023). "Nine arrested over pro-Palestinian banner in London". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  23. ^ "London pro-Palestine marchers call for 'Intifada, Revolution!', London Police investigating". The Jerusalem Post. May 18, 2024. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Miller, Tim (June 17, 2025). "Zohran Mamdani: FYPod Crossover". The Bulwark. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  25. ^ a b c Tress, Luke (June 18, 2025). "NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani compares Intifada to Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, drawing fire". The Times of Israel. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Chait, Jonathan (June 24, 2025). "Why Won't Zohran Mamdani Denounce a Dangerous Slogan?". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Arkin, Daniel (June 19, 2025). "NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani criticized for 'intifada' remarks". NBC News. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  28. ^ Kramer, Marcia (June 18, 2025). "Zohran Mamdani gets emotional while talking about being a Muslim running for NYC mayor - CBS New York". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  29. ^ "Divergent focuses for Cuomo, Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race's final sprint". Politico. June 19, 2025. Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  30. ^ Robinson, Taylor (June 24, 2025). "NYC Mayoral Candidates, Mamdani and Lander, Showcase Unique Alliance on 'The Late Show'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  31. ^ "The Mayoral Candidates Make a Final Pitch to Voters | The Brian Lehrer Show". WNYC. 37 minutes in. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  32. ^ "Jewish Group Slams New York City Protest Calling to 'Globalize the Intifada'". Algemeiner. August 1, 2021.
  33. ^ Foldi, Matthew (October 9, 2023). "Pro-Hamas protests sweep the US". The Spectator.
  34. ^ Hazony, David (October–November 2023). "The War Against the Jews". Sapir Journal. The war is not only against Israel — it is against global Jewry. While the IDF regains the upper hand against Hamas and others in the coming weeks, we should expect our enemies to turn their wrath toward a more vulnerable target: the Diaspora. Listen to the chants of "Globalize the intifada!" This is what they mean.
  35. ^ Eleff, Zev; Feinberg, Ayal (October 13, 2023). "Endorsing Hamas violence isn't just anti-Israel, it's antisemitic". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  36. ^ Helsel, Phil; Miyazawa, Todd (November 7, 2023). "Man dies after hitting head at Israel-Palestinian rallies in California, officials say". NBC News.
  37. ^ "How are Harvard, Penn presidents responding to campus anti-Semitism row?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  38. ^ Gambino, Lauren (December 8, 2023). "US university presidents face firestorm over 'evasive' answers on antisemitism". the Guardian. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  39. ^ Faris, David (December 13, 2023). "The War in Gaza Has Exposed the Limits of the Word "Genocide"". Slate Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  40. ^ a b c Kuttab, Daoud (December 12, 2023). "Opinion: Reality check — intifada has nothing to do with genocide of Jews". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  41. ^ Cantey, Seth (December 14, 2023). "What a congressional hearing got wrong: Calls for intifada are not calls for genocide". The Hill. Retrieved May 12, 2024. There is no denying that intifada carries a violent connotation, and we should assume those using the word on university campuses understand this. But these are not calls for genocide. They are calls for resistance
  42. ^ Miller, Zinaida (December 22, 2023). "Zinaida Miller". LRB Blog. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  43. ^ Mandery, Evan (December 13, 2023). "Don't Create More Safe Spaces on Campus". POLITICO. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  44. ^ Flakin, Nathaniel (December 14, 2023). "No, Intifada Does Not Mean Genocide Against Jews". Left Voice. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  45. ^ "Palestine Remix". Palestine Remix. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  46. ^ Fox, Mira (December 15, 2023). "So what does 'intifada' actually mean?". The Forward. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
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