Bipartisan resolution filed condemning 'globalize the intifada' phrase

(The Center Square) — A Democratic New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer has filed a resolution that would condemn the expression "globalize the intifada" as a call to violence against Israeli and Jewish people across the world.

The word intifada means "shaking off" and has been historically used in Arabic-speaking countries in response to oppressive regimes.

The bipartisan resolution, filed by Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Rudy Yakym, an Indiana Republican, calls on federal, state, and local leaders to condemn the "antisemitic" slogan that has been labeled as a call to violence against Jews by pro-Palestinian demonstrators opposed to Israel's war against Hamas.

“There should be no ambiguity — ‘Globalize the Intifada’ is hate speech, plain and simple," Gottheimer said in a statement. "The Intifada refers to a horrific wave of terror attacks that killed thousands of Jews. Globalizing it is a direct call for violence against Jews, and it must be condemned. It’s insane and unacceptable to me that this antisemitic rhetoric is spreading rampant across our country."

The proposal comes after Gotthiemer and other congressional Democrats met with New York City mayoral candidate Zorhan Mamdani, a state lawmaker and self-described Democratic socialist who has refused to recant his previous use of the phrase.

Mamdani, who trounced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last month's Democratic primary, has sent shockwaves through New York's political establishment and drawn national attention from Republicans who have criticized the city's dramatic shift to the left. The latest polls show Mamdani is the frontrunner of the mayoral race, ahead of Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. The general election is Nov. 4.

Top Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — New York's senior U.S. senator — have been demanding that Mamdani condemn calls to globalize the intifada.

Earlier this week, Mamdani told a gathering of New York City business leaders that he would begin discouraging the "intifada" expression, which he had declined to condemn in previous interviews. He has repeatedly denied that he is antisemitic, despite his outspoken criticism of Israel.

Business leaders have expressed concerns about Mamdani’s proposals, which many view as anti-business and could drive corporations and the tax base of wealthy New Yorkers from the city.

But New York Democrats say Mamdani needs to do more to explain his position on the expression and condemn it's use by demonstrators.

"It doesn't matter what meaning you have in your brain. It is not how the word is received," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said during a radio interview last month, when asked about Mamdani's use of the phrase. "When you use a word like intifada — to many Jewish Americans and Jewish New Yorkers, that means you are permissive of violence against Jews."

There were 9,354 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment and vandalism in the U.S. last year, a 5% increase from 2023 and a 344% increase over the past five years, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

"At a time when antisemitic violence is at record highs, we must stand united to condemn this antisemitic hate speech and take meaningful action to combat rising Jew hatred,” Gottheimer said.