The ‘globalized intifada’ masks antisemitism behind political rhetoric, with violent incidents across America revealing its aim to destroy Israel rather than support Palestinians. Americans are now used to hearing chants of ‘globalize the intifada’ in cities and campuses, with even a leading mayoral candidate in New York City downplaying its significance. However, as evidence mounts of an actual intifada as an anti-Israel, Jew-hating terror campaign waged on U.S. soil, it is past time to take these demonstrations and their rhetoric seriously.
A movement that foments attacks against Jews and Israel supporters is not a harmless expression of solidarity with Gaza. Many Americans contextualize anti-Jewish violence within the framework of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly Israel’s war on Hamas. However, this misses the point: there are people in this country who despise Jews and Israel, seeking to destroy them, and were simply waiting for an excuse to act on their hatred.
Israelis know what an intifada really means, as they lived through it twice, with every cafe, bus, and nightclub in Israel targeted for gruesome attacks against civilians. Now, Americans are learning what it looks like when ‘globalized.’ The article notes the recent firebombing of Pennsylvania Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro’s home during Passover, as well as the alleged attack on Israeli embassy staff in Washington, DC. In Boulder, Colo., a foreign national living illegally in the U.S. launched a fiery attack on demonstrators for the release of Hamas hostages, expressing a desire to kill all Zionist people.
These incidents are being dismissed into broader discussions of ‘antisemitism and Islamophobia’ rising due to the war in Gaza. However, the article argues that this is a dangerous misunderstanding, as anti-Jewish violence is not a natural outcome of Israel’s actions but rather an ancient prejudice that adapts to contemporary circumstances. The author emphasizes the need to distinguish between genuine peace movements and those that merely serve as cover for chaos and violence.
The movement is not about establishing a Palestinian state but about destroying Israel, as its adherents fundamentally believe Jews are not legitimate sovereigns in the land of Israel. The ideology licenses extreme measures, including targeting Jews and Israel supporters worldwide. The article highlights the need for a national conversation on this issue, acknowledging that some international students and immigrants have imported intolerable bigotry into the U.S.
The author calls for effective strategies to combat the globalized intifada, including deporting aliens who support violence and keeping them out in the first place. They also highlight former President Donald Trump’s efforts in addressing the issue, but argue that the threat to Jews has become significant. It is alarming that these terrorists have gone this far, and it is likely that more radicals are biding their time. The author stresses the importance of immediate action to protect Jewish lives and American values, as the ‘globalized intifada’ is a rebranded version of an old hatred that does not care who it harms in its quest.