The Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police in the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Wednesday, announcing a shift in their approach following violent incidents targeting Jewish individuals in Sydney, Australia, and the UK. They stated that individuals chanting provocative slogans such as “Globalise the intifada” during protest demonstrations would now face arrest.
The term “Intifada” comes from Arabic, meaning “uprising,” and historically refers to large-scale Palestinian resistance actions. These slogans advocating for global “holy war” against Jewish nations and people have transformed into symbols of anti-Jewish violence, especially amid the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The British police decision came in the wake of a terrorist attack against the Jewish community at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where a father and son gunmen opened fire during celebrations of the Hanukkah holiday, resulting in 15 fatalities and dozens of injuries on Sunday, December 14.
Additionally, the police referenced an attack that occurred on October 2 at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester. Jihad al-Shamie drove his car into pedestrians and launched a knife attack, resulting in the deaths of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.
The statement emphasized that the context, meaning, and consequences of slogans like “Globalise the intifada” have changed due to the existing violent acts, prompting immediate arrests of individuals chanting such slogans in future protests.
Law enforcement officers in London and Greater Manchester will be briefed on utilizing powers granted under the Public Order Act to take decisive action. Increased patrols and security measures have been implemented around Jewish synagogues, schools, and community areas in these regions.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed this intervention, asserting that they have long warned about the incitement to violence inherent in chanting “Globalise the intifada.”
Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, hailed the decision as a crucial step in addressing hate speech on the streets that fuels violence and terror. He highlighted the recurrent instances of hate-inciting slogans like “Globalise the intifada” leading to attacks in Manchester and Bondi Beach, underscoring the illegality and societal non-acceptance of such rhetoric.
After the Bondi Beach terror incident, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed shock over the shooting, attributing it as a direct consequence of the rampant anti-Jewish sentiments in Australian streets over the past two years, where provocative slogans like “Globalise the intifada” have now turned into reality.