On Saturday in Brooklyn, a few hundred supporters of the Palestinian cause held a rally that demonstrated how overheated the Left’s rhetoric has become: Demonstrators weren’t even trying to hide their bloodlust and thirst for violence. And they went away, no doubt, nevertheless believing themselves to be on the side of righteousness.
The demonstration, which was organized by a group that calls itself “Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine,” featured banners proclaiming: “Zionism is terrorism,” “We will free Palestine within our lifetime,” and “Globalize the intifada.”
“Intifada” means “shaking off” or “rebellion,” and refers to armed struggle against Israel, including Israeli civilians. The Jerusalem Post notes that “during the Second Intifada from 2000-2005, Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and some affiliated with Fatah, carried out hundreds of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and security personnel, killing more than 1,000.”
What would it mean to globalize an intifada? It is hard to escape the conclusion that it would mean violence against Jews the world over, as we have seen recently. Around the time of the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel, Palestinian Muslims and their supporters committed acts of violence against Jews and supporters of Israel all over the United States. In New York City, a Muslim mob screaming “Allahu akbar” attacked a Jewish man in midtown Manhattan. Also in Manhattan, Palestinians threatened violence and screamed anti-Semitic slurs at Jews. One threw a mini-firebomb. Pro-jihad protesters stormed a restaurant and spat on Jewish patrons; one of the thugs threw a bottle. A Muslim, Waseem Awawdeh, was arrested for viciously beating a Jew in Times Square.
The demonstration, which was organized by a group that calls itself “Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine,” featured banners proclaiming: “Zionism is terrorism,” “We will free Palestine within our lifetime,” and “Globalize the intifada.”
“Intifada” means “shaking off” or “rebellion,” and refers to armed struggle against Israel, including Israeli civilians. The Jerusalem Post notes that “during the Second Intifada from 2000-2005, Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and some affiliated with Fatah, carried out hundreds of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and security personnel, killing more than 1,000.”
What would it mean to globalize an intifada? It is hard to escape the conclusion that it would mean violence against Jews the world over, as we have seen recently. Around the time of the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel, Palestinian Muslims and their supporters committed acts of violence against Jews and supporters of Israel all over the United States. In New York City, a Muslim mob screaming “Allahu akbar” attacked a Jewish man in midtown Manhattan. Also in Manhattan, Palestinians threatened violence and screamed anti-Semitic slurs at Jews. One threw a mini-firebomb. Pro-jihad protesters stormed a restaurant and spat on Jewish patrons; one of the thugs threw a bottle. A Muslim, Waseem Awawdeh, was arrested for viciously beating a Jew in Times Square.
