Why ‘Globalise the Intifada’ slogan is under scrutiny and why Australia, and other Western nations want to ban it
Mostly pro-Palestinian protesters are chanting the slogan after widespread destruction in Gaza caused by the Israeli military machine. The leaders in the West think that the slogan is fueling anti-semitism and provoking attacks on Jews.
New Delhi: UK police have reportedly warned that people publicly chanting "globalize the intifada”, a purportedly pro-Palestine call, will be arrested. This comes as the "context had changed” after the recent antisemitic terror attack in Australia’s Bondi Beach. Some criticism of the move came swiftly, as many accused the police forces of London and the northwest English city of Manchester of political repression.
What is behind the move?
The move follows recent antisemitic attacks, including father-and-son gunmen killing 15 people last Sunday at a Hanukkah festival on the Sydney beach and an October attack on a Manchester synagogue on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
"We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalize the intifada,'” the U.K. capital’s Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police said in a joint statement. They further vowed to "be more assertive.” "Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed — words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.”
As part of the move, two people who allegedly shouted slogans calling for "intifada” during a pro-Palestinian protest in London were arrested last week. The Greater Manchester police also announced that they would arrest anyone chanting "globalise the intifada” or holding a placard with the phrase on it.
Similarly the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has also announced that the phrase "globalise the intifada” will be outlawed. That move also comes from the Bondi terror attack. "You’ve seen what the consequences of globalising the intifada are,” Minns said. "I strongly believe that we have to do everything we can to ensure that words that are said at a rally are not used by somebody at a later point for violent retribution on city streets and that means drawing a line in the sand and saying that this phrase used in this context can lead to violence,” he further added.
Meaning of the phrase and consequences of ban
Intifada is an Arabic word that translates to uprising or "shaking off”. The word is associated with two regional uprisings against Israel that took place in the past four decades, termed the first and the second intifadas.
The first Palestinian intifada occurred between 1987 and 1993. It started in 1987 after an Israeli truck struck two vehicles in Gaza, killing four Palestinians. This sparked a campaign of unrest and reprisals from Israeli forces. While figures vary, estimates reportedly suggest at least 1,300 Palestinians and 100 Israelis were killed by the end of the intifada.
This was followed by a more violent, second intifada. This began in 2000 and continued until 2005, one of the most severe military actions in the region. While the first intifada was meek, the second was akin to a large military campaign. The images of both though are representative of the fight of the Palestinian identity against the one of Israel in the region.
When it comes to the current use of ‘Globalise the Intifada’, the supporters of the phrase say it is more of a symbolic cry than a call of action towards violence. In this way, supporters claim it is a token of support towards Palestinian struggle against their oppression. While supporters claim it is not used to instigate violence and terrorism, those against it claim otherwise. Detractors claim that the use of the phrase ‘Globalise the Intifada’ is being used as a call for violence not just against the Jewish state of Israel and against Jews around the world, thus calling for its ban as an antisemitic statement.