Starmer Condemns 'Globalise the Intifada' Chant as Racist
Sir Keir Starmer has urged police to prosecute individuals chanting "globalise the intifada" during protests, describing the slogan as an example of "extreme racism".
Following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on Wednesday, the prime minister highlighted that the chant, which derives from an Arabic term for uprising, has caused members of the Jewish community to feel "scared, intimidated, wondering if they belong".
He further stated that the government is examining what "further measures we can take on protests" in response to growing concerns about antisemitism.
Starmer called on the public to "open their eyes to Jewish pain," emphasizing that the issue pertains "about society every bit as much as it is about security."
The attack in the north London suburb, which police have classified as a terror incident, has reignited discussions regarding the safety of British Jews and the regulation of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Starmer's Remarks on Antisemitism and Protests
At a news conference earlier, Sir Keir remarked that too many individuals "don't want to see" antisemitism within British society.
"Of course we protect freedom of speech and peaceful protests in this country, but if you are marching with people wearing pictures of paragliders without calling it out, you are venerating the murder of Jews," he said.
"If you stand alongside people who say globalise the intifada, you are calling for terrorism against Jews - and people who use that phrase should be prosecuted.
It is racism, extreme racism and it has left a minority community in this country scared, intimidated, wondering if they belong."
Government Review and Responses
Sir Keir's statements represent his strongest public stance on how law enforcement should handle such marches.
A government review of public order and hate crime legislation, initiated after the killing of two Jewish individuals outside a synagogue in Manchester last year, has not yet delivered its findings.
Since the attack on Wednesday, Jonathan Hall KC, the government's terrorism adviser, has advocated for a "moratorium" on pro-Palestinian marches, noting it is "clearly impossible at the moment" for these events not to "incubate" antisemitism.
Both the Conservative Party and Reform UK have called for stricter government measures regarding these demonstrations.
Conversely, Green Party leader Zack Polanski warned against curtailing civil liberties in response to the attack, describing it as "abhorrent."
"For a government to seek to use the pain of the Jewish community to restrict our right to peaceful protest would be a dangerous error," he said.
