‘I is for Intifada’: UK anger at Palestinian ABC book

JEWISH ORGANISATIONS in the UK were among those attacking a new alphabet book for children after one of its pages referenced the Palestinian intifada.

The book, “P is for Palestine”, was published in New York last week after raising nearly $16,000 (£12,000) in an internet crowdfunding campaign.

Pages in the book include “A is for Arabic” and “Q is for Quds”, the Arabic word for Jerusalem.

But it was the entry for the letter I — “I is for Intifada” — that triggered heated debate on social media.

Beneath a drawing of barbed wire, the page text reads: “Intifada is Arabic for rising up for what is right, if you are a kid or grownup!”

The Arabic word intifada literally means “tremor” or “to shake off”, but in the Middle East it is widely associated with two Palestinian uprisings against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians died in violence across the region between 1987 and 1993, and again between 2000 and 2005.

“It is sickening to see such glorification of violence specifically targeting children in this publication,” a Board of Deputies spokesman said.

“Incitement does no service to the Palestinian cause whatsoever, and must be condemned at every opportunity — no matter from where it emanates.”

Paul Charney, chairman of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland added: “This book is yet another example of the normalisation of hate and fear of the ‘other’ within the Palestinian population.

“Perhaps if I was for ‘Initiatives for peace’, rather than for ‘Incitement’ then we would not be seeing the terrorism and violence that we do today.”

There was anger at the page online.

One Facebook user wrote: “How despicable ..... you are promoting a book that invites children to murder Jews.”

“I am very disappointed,” added Schtalman Michael. “You are promoting the ‘literature’ that is turning human beings, even innocent little children, into enthusiastic suicidal murderers, bloodthirsty androids of the misanthropic ‘Palestinian Intifada’.”

The author, Golbarg Bashi, an academic of Iranian heritage who teaches history in New York, said the wave of anger was triggered when she tried to promote the book on a group for New York City mothers.

Police security might be needed for a forthcoming public reading of the book, she added.