Zohran Mamdani, the democratic nominee for mayor, is facing severe criticism around his defense of the slogan ‘spread the intifada globally’, often echoed in pro-Palestinian protests. The backlash primarily comes from antisemitism monitoring group, Canary Mission, which is concerned about his position on the Israel-Palestine issue. ‘Intifada’, translating from Arabic to ‘uprising’ or ‘shake off’, carries significant implications for Jewish communities due to its association with historical episodes of violence. Two specific instances of Palestinian intifadas against Israel, dating from 1987 to 1993 and 2000 to 2005, resulted in over a thousand Israeli deaths, making Mamdani’s defense all the more contentious within this mayoral race.
The chant ‘spread the intifada globally’ that’s often heard during pro-Palestinian rallies has come under wide criticism for allegedly advocating violence against Jews. Canary Mission, a monitoring group with a focus on tracking what it categorizes as anti-Israel sentiment in academic and political circles, has collated evidence associating Mamdani with multiple pro-Palestinian protests where the disputed slogan was chanted. These associations are now prompting questions about Mamdani’s beliefs as he campaigns in a city that is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens and an advocate of Democratic Socialism, justified his endorsement of ‘spread the intifada globally’ during a podcast interview. In his perspective, he sees it as an ‘urgent plea for equality and equitable rights’ from the Palestinians. Yet, when he compared this to the 1944 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising phrase used by the US Holocaust Museum while translating ‘intifada’, the museum rebuked his comparison, calling it ‘flagrantly false’.
Prominent figures in the Jewish community, including the Anti-Defamation League’s leader, Jonathan Greenblatt, have lambasted the slogan as a ‘clear incitement to violence’. The report also surmises that Mamdani, born to Muslim-Indian parents in Uganda, was cultivated in anti-Israel activism. During his college years, he established a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and has been an advocate for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, advocating economic ramifications on Israel due to perceived ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
Mamdani’s parents, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, are also known supporters of the BDS movement. His involvement in legislative work includes having proposed bills limiting the funding Israeli-charitable organizations receive, causing Jewish organizations to express concern. In the wake of an attack killing 1,200 Israelis, he partook in anti-Israel protests, inviting more criticism from those who believe this makes him unsuitable to lead a large population of Jewish citizens.
Despite the allegations, Mamdani refutes extremist affiliations, underscoring his commitment to peace and universal human rights. He addresses the claims against him, stating: ‘Being accused of antisemitism deeply upsets me.’ Moreover, he proposes elevating the funding to combat hate crimes as one of the solutions. His political platform promotes public transport affordability, freezing rents, and accessible housing to all.
Nevertheless, his refusal to recognize Israel’s due rights as a Jewish state and his support for BDS have made him less palatable to moderate voters. Consequently, political opponent Andrew Cuomo has exploited this opportunity, marketing himself as a staunch pro-Israel ally. Mamdani’s interpretation of ‘spread the intifada globally’ and his history of anti-Israel advocacy have positioned him at the heart of a heated storm as the mayoral race approaches.
While critics allude to extremist ties, there is no direct evidence linking Mamdani to violent activities or groups. Ultimately, it is up to the electorate to determine whether his rhetoric signifies a potential threat or signifies a brave vision for the future.
The post Mayoral Nominee Zohran Mamdani In Hot Water Over ‘Spread the Intifada Globally’ Slogan appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
