Politics in New York is rarely quiet, but things reached a fever pitch when Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's name became inextricably linked to the phrase "globalize the intifada." People are still arguing about it. You've probably seen the clips or read the heated Twitter threads. It isn't just a local spat; it’s a flashpoint for how we talk about the Middle East in American backyards.
Let’s be real. The word "intifada" carries massive, heavy weight. For some, it’s a cry for liberation and systemic change. For others, it’s a direct reference to periods of intense violence, specifically the suicide bombings of the early 2000s. When an elected official like Mamdani—who represents Astoria and is a prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)—gets involved with these slogans, the fallout is immediate and messy.
The Origins of the Controversy
It started during the wave of protests that swept through New York City. Mamdani wasn't just a passive observer. He has been a vocal critic of Israeli government policy for years. However, the specific phrase "globalize the intifada" became a lightning rod. Critics, including many of his colleagues in the New York State Assembly and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), argued that "globalizing" an armed uprising is a call for violence against Jews worldwide.
Mamdani sees it differently. Or at least, he frames his advocacy through the lens of a broader, internationalist struggle against oppression.
He’s a complicated figure in the Albany landscape. Born in Kampala, Uganda, and the son of famous filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, he doesn't exactly fit the mold of a career politician. He’s a rapper-turned-legislator. He’s someone who uses social media to bypass traditional gatekeepers. This makes his involvement in the "globalize the intifada" rhetoric even more impactful because he has a direct line to younger, more radicalized voters who feel the Democratic establishment has failed them on foreign policy.
What Does Globalize the Intifada Actually Mean?
If you ask ten different people, you'll get ten different answers. That’s the problem.
To the protesters Mamdani often marches with, "intifada" literally translates from Arabic as "shaking off." They argue it refers to a civil uprising against occupation. To them, globalizing it means spreading the spirit of resistance—strikes, protests, and boycotts—across the world to pressure the Israeli state.
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But history isn't just a dictionary definition.
The Second Intifada (2000–2005) saw more than 1,000 Israelis and 3,000 Palestinians killed. It was defined by bus bombings and cafe attacks. When people hear the phrase in the streets of Brooklyn or Queens, they don't think of "shaking off" dust; they think of blood. This is where the disconnect happens. Mamdani’s defenders claim he’s being unfairly targeted for using revolutionary language, while his detractors say he’s providing cover for antisemitic rhetoric under the guise of "activism."
The Political Fallout in Albany
The backlash wasn't just online. It was legislative.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers in New York took the rare step of publicly condemning the rhetoric. They argued that as a public official, Mamdani has a responsibility to use language that doesn't incite fear in his own constituents. New York City has one of the largest Jewish populations in the world. When a local rep uses slogans associated with historical violence, people get scared. They don't just get annoyed; they feel unsafe.
Mamdani hasn't backed down.
Actually, he’s leaned into his role as an outsider. He’s used the controversy to highlight what he calls the "silencing" of Palestinian voices. This is a classic political maneuver: turn a criticism of your language into a debate about the "right" to speak. It works. His base in Astoria loves it. They see him as a truthteller who isn't afraid of the "Zionist lobby," a term that—again—raises its own set of red flags for many observers.
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The DSA Factor
You can't talk about Zohran Mamdani without talking about the DSA. The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America has been at the forefront of the movement to shift the Democratic Party's stance on Israel. They’ve pushed for the "Not On Our Dime" act, which Mamdani sponsored. This bill aims to strip the tax-exempt status of New York charities that fund activities in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The "globalize the intifada" rhetoric is often heard at DSA-led rallies.
It’s part of a larger strategy to link local New York issues—like housing and healthcare—to international struggles. The idea is that the money spent on military aid could be spent on subways or schools. It’s a compelling narrative for a lot of people. But when that narrative is wrapped in slogans that sound like a call for global conflict, the policy goals often get lost in the noise of the culture war.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
We are seeing a massive shift in how the American left views the Middle East. For decades, support for Israel was a bipartisan given. That’s gone.
Mamdani is a bellwether.
If he can survive the political firestorm caused by phrases like "globalize the intifada," it signals to other young politicians that they can be more radical without losing their seats. It changes the "Overton Window"—the range of ideas tolerated in public discourse. Honestly, whether you like him or hate him, you have to admit he’s changed the conversation in New York.
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However, there’s a cost.
The polarization is intense. We’re seeing a rise in hate crimes across the board. When political language becomes this charged, the nuance of policy is replaced by the heat of the street. Experts like Dr. Dov Waxman, a professor of Israel Studies at UCLA, have noted that this kind of rhetoric often alienates the very people needed to build a broad coalition for peace. If you want to change minds, shouting "intifada" in a crowded city might not be the most effective way to do it.
Moving Beyond the Slogans
The real work happens in the fine print of the bills, not the chants on the 7 train.
Mamdani has been effective at bringing attention to the plight of Palestinians, but the "globalize the intifada" controversy has also made him a pariah to many of his colleagues. In a legislative body, you need friends to pass laws. If you've spent the last six months being called out for your rhetoric, your ability to fix the MTA or lower rents in Queens might take a hit. It’s the classic activist’s dilemma: do you want to be right, or do you want to be effective?
Actionable Insights for Navigating the News
When you see headlines about Mamdani or "globalize the intifada," it’s easy to get sucked into the rage-bait. Here is how to actually digest what’s happening without losing your mind:
- Check the Source: Look at who is reporting the story. Outlets like The City or Gothamist often provide more local context than national cable news.
- Read the Full Quote: Slogans are designed to be short. Look for the longer interviews where Mamdani or his critics explain their reasoning. The "why" is usually more important than the "what."
- Understand the Geography: New York politics is hyper-local. What plays well in a socialist-leaning district in Astoria might be political suicide in the Upper West Side or South Brooklyn.
- Follow the Money: Don't just look at the tweets. Look at the campaign contributions and the specific bills being introduced. That’s where the real power shift is happening.
- Acknowledge Multiple Truths: It is possible for a phrase to be both a legitimate call for resistance in one culture and a terrifying threat in another. Recognizing this duality is the only way to understand why the debate is so toxic.
The story of Zohran Mamdani and the call to "globalize the intifada" isn't going away. As long as the conflict in the Middle East continues to bleed into American domestic politics, we will see more of these flashpoints. The key is to look past the performance and see the actual political restructuring taking place underneath. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s quintessentially New York.
To stay informed, track the progress of the "Not On Our Dime" legislation and watch how the DSA performs in the next primary cycle. These are the real-world markers of whether this brand of politics has staying power or if it’s just a temporary surge in the political zeitgeist.