Throughout the course of his campaign, Democratic and Republican politicians alike have attacked Mamdani, focusing in particular on his statements on Palestine, and especially his commentary on the phrase “globalize the Intifada.” The phrase has been met by particularly intense backlash, as it demonstrates the mainstreaming of Palestine solidarity, the strength and radicalization of the movement, and an alternative path to achieving Palestinian liberation. In the mid-20th century, it came to be used to mean “uprising.” While the word “intifada” in Arabic can denote any uprising from below and has been used to name dozens of popular uprisings across the Middle East, mentions of “the Intifada” are most often in reference to the First and Second Palestinian uprisings against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, which began in 1987 and 2000, respectively. The Second Intifada, which emerged in September of 2000, was also an expression of popular frustration — this time not only at the still-ongoing Israeli occupation but also in rejection of the farcical “peace process” led by Israel and the U.S. that continued to strip Palestinians of their land and worsen conditions on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza.
Author: Shireen Akram-Boshar
Published at: 2025-10-20 21:10:15
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