Lang
11/4/23
The Arab-American contingent of the Iowa Democratic Party is calling for an apology from party leaders after the leaders criticized the University of Iowa Democrats over their support for Palestine.
Earlier this week, Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart called for the leadership of the student group to resign after it posted a pro-Palestinian letter in which it used the phrase “May every Palestinian live long and free, from the river to the sea.”
Newman Abuissa of Iowa City, who chairs the Iowa Democratic Party’s Arab-American Caucus, has now accused the state party of misquoting and misconstruing the statement. In her statement, Hart claimed the post actually read, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.” That phrase is generally interpreted by people who are pro-Israel as calling for the genocide of Israelis, while people who are pro-Palestine say it instead refers to a state in which Palestinians can be free.
Abuissa is calling for Hart to apologize to the UI Democrats.
UI Democratic leadership has indicated they have no plans to resign, although they have since apologized for causing any ill feelings the phrase may have caused, and they have since removed the post in question. The group has issued a follow-up statement disassociating themselves from the state party.