'I is for Intifada' children's book under review at DC suburb's public library

A public library in the Washington D.C. suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, has placed a Palestinian alphabet book under review, because one of the letters stood for a controversial word with antisemitic implications.  

Mary Riley Styles Public Library Director Megan Dotzler said during a recent Falls Church library board meeting that a formal complaint has been lodged against the book P is for Palestine, because of its passage "I is for Initifada," which means uprising.

“Intifada is Arabic for rising up for what is right, if you’re a kid or a grownup,” the passage reads, according to local outlet Arlington Now.

The term is often used by Palestinian protesters to support resisting Israel in Gaza and the West Bank. But others have claimed that the word is biased against all Jewish people and promotes violence against Jews and Israelis.

Three members of the board will now conduct the review, and will make recommendations on whether the book needs to be replaced with something else. The book will remain in the library's collection until the review is complete, according to library procedure.

The review is expected to be completed by March 1, but residents will be allowed to appeal the decision.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.