A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry is poised to recommend making the controversial slogan 'globalise the intifada' a criminal offence, its chair has revealed. The move comes as leading Jewish organisations urge the state to also outlaw the phrases 'from the river to the sea' and 'death to the IDF'.
Inquiry Chair's Personal Stance and Secrecy Concerns
Labor MP and inquiry chair Edmond Atalla confirmed his draft report will advocate for a ban on the slogan 'globalise the intifada'. The parliamentary committee, examining measures to prohibit slogans inciting hatred, has faced criticism for its lack of public hearings and a decision to keep individual submissions confidential.
Atalla, who speaks Arabic, stated his personal view is that banning the phrase is "not unreasonable". He linked the term directly to the Bondi beach terror attack in mid-December, describing the massacre as "an act of intifada". The inquiry, which closed to public submissions last week, will only publish expert and organisational submissions, with about 150 uploaded so far and six marked confidential.
Jewish Groups Push for Broader Prohibitions
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, in its formal submission, has called for the creation of a new hate speech offence. It specifically targets the phrases 'globalise the intifada', 'from the river to the sea', and 'death to the IDF', arguing they are "inherently hateful" and call for violence or ethnic cleansing. This position has been endorsed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).
However, the proposal faces significant legal and community pushback. Constitutional law expert Professor Anne Twomey warned that banning specific political chants presents "difficult legal issues". She advised the government to rely on content-neutral laws tied to preventing serious harm instead.
Community Divisions and Legal Challenges Ahead
The inquiry has exposed deep divisions. The Palestine Action Group stated it has not led chants of 'globalise the intifada' at rallies since October 2023 and rejected the notion such chants are threatening. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia argued the term 'intifada' has multiple interpretations and is not exclusively hateful.
Meanwhile, the NSW opposition's legal affairs spokesperson, Damien Tudehope, accused the government of a 'rushed' process with a 'predetermined outcome'. He expressed 'grave doubts' about outlawing the phrase without triggering a constitutional challenge and called for full transparency.
The Australian National Imams Council warned that banning specific phrases would disproportionately affect Arab and Muslim Australians, a claim Atalla rejected, stating the slogan constitutes a "direct attack on the Jewish community".
The committee, comprising four Labor members, two crossbenchers, and one National MP, is expected to deliver its final report by 31 January. This would allow legislation to be voted on when parliament returns in February, setting the stage for a contentious political and legal battle over the limits of free speech and hate crime laws in NSW.
