The children’s book “P is for Palestine” stoked controversy because of its entry “I is for Intifada.” Image by LaunchGood

By Aiden Pink December 3, 2017

A popular Facebook group for New York mothers that shut down after a raging controversy over a new children’s book called “P is for Palestine” is back up and operating under a strict new set of rules to prevent such fights in the future.

The group “UES Mommas,” which had more than 27,000 members, usually featured posts about strollers and babysitters, but was the site of hateful debate over the new children’s book “P is for Palestine.”

Many members criticized author Golbarg Bashi for promoting what they saw as anti-Israel politics in the group. One woman accused her of “inciting death.” “Nothing more racist than Muslims!!!!!!!” another wrote.

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They were especially angered by the line “I is for Intifada, Intifada is Arabic for rising up for what is right, if you are a kid or grownup!”

“Intifada,” the Arabic word for “tremor” or “shaking off,” was used to refer to two violent Palestinian uprisings in the 1980s and 2000s. More than 1,000 Israelis and 5,000 Palestinians combined were killed in the two intifadas in the 1980s and 2000s.

The page’s moderators “archived” the site on November 19, banning new posts, and said that they might have to shut the entire group down.

But the page is now back up, the New York Post reported Saturday, with new rules including “no public shaming,” “no politics” and “no vaccination posts.” (UES Mommas had a “war” over vaccines in 2014)

“This is not the forum to discuss the happenings of the political world,” moderators wrote. “Today’s climate is tense and fragile and should you feel passionate about certain topics, please use your personal page to fight the fight. We will not tolerate contentious threads or hateful speech against ANY of our members.”

Contact Aiden Pink at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink

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