Bipartisan Condemnation of “Globalize the Intifada” Slogan

Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) has introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the phrase “Globalize the Intifada”, which he regards as hate speech inciting violence against Israeli and Jewish communities.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Representative Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.), emerged shortly after Gottheimer and other Democrats met with New York City mayoral hopeful Zoharan Mamdani in Washington, D.C. Mamdani has notably refused to denounce the slogan, which is often used by anti-Israel activists in New York City.

Gottheimer emphasized the seriousness of the slogan, stating, “There should be no ambiguity — ‘Globalize the Intifada’ is hate speech, plain and simple. The Intifada refers to a wave of terror attacks responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jews. To call for its worldwide spread is a direct incitement to violence against Jewish people, and it must be condemned.”

Mamdani, known for his outspoken pro-Palestinian stance, has defended the use of “globalize the intifada” and has consistently declined to condemn it, framing it as a call for Palestinian rights rather than violence. During a viral interview with *The Bulwark*, he linked the chant to the Palestinian quest for equality and human rights.

Despite the controversy, Mamdani refused to denounce the slogan in a *Meet the Press* interview, asserting, “The language I use is rooted in a belief in universal human rights. I do not believe the mayor’s role is to police speech.”

Gottheimer criticized Mamdani’s stance and expressed concern over the spread of such rhetoric, especially amid rising antisemitic incidents reported in the U.S. He highlighted that “words like these incite violence, fuel hate, and put Jewish families at risk,” referencing a record 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 5% increase from the previous year and a significant rise over five years.

He concluded that it is essential to collectively oppose hate speech and address the growing threat of antisemitism in America.