Sydney Lord Mayor cancels 'Globalise the Intifada' forum over safety concerns
Consensus Summary
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore cancelled a 'Globalise the Intifada' forum scheduled for May 6, 2026, at a council-owned venue, citing concerns over public safety and social cohesion amid heightened tensions. The event, organised by Stop The War On Palestine, was welcomed for cancellation by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, which had engaged with the council over fears the phrase incited violence. Moore blamed divisive media coverage for escalating tensions, while critics like NSW Premier Chris Minns supported the decision. However, the organisers announced they would relocate the event to another venue, denying it posed a safety risk and framing it as a peaceful protest against Israel’s occupation of Gaza. The controversy follows a rise in antisemitism in Australia, including a December 2025 terrorist attack in Bondi targeting Jews, which led to the establishment of a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore cancelled an event titled 'Why it is right to say Globalise the Intifada?' scheduled for Tuesday night in a council-owned building (East Sydney Community Arts Centre).
- The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the cancellation, stating it had been 'engaging intensively with the council' about the event's risks to public safety and social cohesion.
- The event was organised by the Stop The War On Palestine group.
- Clover Moore cited 'heightened anxiety and division' and the timing of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion hearings as reasons for the cancellation.
- The phrase 'Globalise the Intifada' was described by a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry as a call to violence against Jewish Australians.
- The event was originally scheduled for May 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns called Moore’s decision 'the right call' and stated the phrase is 'antithetical to the kind of community we want to live in'.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Moore accused a 'persistent media campaign' of driving division by 'painting complex issues in black and white' and demanded outlets present issues more responsibly.
- The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies stated the phrase 'Globalise the Intifada' 'essentially means kill or main a Jew wherever you find one'.
- Moore mentioned the decision was made during the week of the first hearing block of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in Australia.
- Moore criticised Rupert Murdoch-owned newspapers for 'exploiting trauma' and 'demanding communities take sides' in their coverage.
- The Guardian did not include the specific quote from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies about the phrase meaning 'kill or main a Jew'.
- The Stop The War On Palestine group announced the event would be relocated to Charles Kernan Reserve in Darlington after the cancellation.
- The group denied the event posed a safety risk, stating 'Globalise the Intifada' is 'not a call for violence' but 'a call to end the violence of Israel’s occupation'.
- Cumberland City Councillor Ahmed Ouf, a pro-Palestinian advocate, stated Jewish Australians had 'no reason to feel threatened' by the event and that 'Jewish people are not all the same, there are lots of anti-Zionist Jews'.
- The article included a statistic that at least 70,000 Gazans have been killed since the Israeli occupation of Gaza began following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
- The article mentioned the Royal Commission was established following ISIS-inspired Bondi terrorist attacks in December 2025, where a father-and-son duo allegedly murdered 15 people targeting Jews.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC and Guardian state the event was cancelled by Moore, but NewsComAu reports the organisers relocated it to another venue despite the cancellation.
- ABC and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies quote the phrase 'Globalise the Intifada' as a call to violence, while NewsComAu quotes Stop The War On Palestine and Councillor Ouf denying it is a call for violence.
- ABC and Guardian describe the event as a 'pro-Palestine meeting' or 'forum,' while NewsComAu frames it as an 'information session' and denies it promotes violence.
Source Articles
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore cancels 'globalise the intifada' forum
The event's cancellation is welcomed by groups representing the Jewish community in New South Wales.
Sydney’s mayor cancels ‘globalise the intifada’ forum set for council building
Clover Moore says events must not ‘contribute to fear’ but takes a swipe at Murdoch press for ‘bad faith’ campaign Sydney’s mayor has cancelled a pro-Palestine meeting due to be held in a council building on Tuesday night. The Stop The War On Palestine group had planned to hold a “Globalise the Intifada” forum at the East Sydney Community Arts Centre on Tuesday night. Continue reading...
Shock move after ‘Intifada’ event axed
A controversial “Globalise the Intifada” information session has been relocated despite being sensationally blocked by the City of Sydney council.