The Metropolitan and Greater Manchester police forces have said they will arrest people holding placards and chanting the phrase ‘globalise the intifada’ – an Arabic word for uprising.
In a statement following Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, they said: “Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests”.
The two forces also referenced the Manchester synagogue attack in October.
The UK’s chief rabbi told the this week that chants of ‘globalise the intifada’ had helped lead to the two attacks.
The police forces said: “We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’ and those using it at future protests or in a targeted way should expect” the two forces “to take action”.
“Frontline officers will be briefed on this enhanced approach. We will also use powers under the Public Order Act, including conditions around London synagogues during services,” the statement said.
Visible patrols and protective security measures around synagogues, schools, and community venues have been stepped up in London and Greater Manchester.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens of others were injured in Sunday’s Bondi attack, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
Two people died in the knife attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on 2 October.
Criticising the decision by the police forces on Wednesday, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal described the move as “another low in the political repression of protest for Palestinian rights”.
He said police did not consult with the coalition that organises major protests in London or representative groups of the Palestinian community in the UK “before making this far reaching statement on our rights”.
“The horrific massacre in Sydney, Australia should not be used as a justification to further repress fundamental democratic rights of protest and free speech in this country,” Mr Jamal added.
Responding to the joint statement by police, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “We strongly welcome this necessary intervention.”
“We have long warned that people chanting slogans like ‘globalise the intifada’ are inciting violence, and we have been making the case for robust enforcement in relation to this slogan with government at all levels for some time,” the board said.
But Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said in a statement that “banning this one chant is a useless token measure”, adding “it is hard to see how they will possibly enforce this ban”.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in parliament on Wednesday that his government has increased funding for Jewish security up to £28m.
“I’m pleased to do that, but I’m sad to do that,” he said, adding that he has ordered a review of protest and hate crime laws.
He was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who said antisemitism was real, “poisonous” and that “we must all work together to stamp it out”.
The term intifada came into popular use during the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1987.
Some have described the term as a call for violence against Jewish people.
Others have said it is a call for peaceful resistance to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and actions in Gaza.