Palestinians accuse EU leader of using racist language.

The Palestinian Authority has criticized the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for her congratulatory video message to Israel on its Independence Day, in which she praised the country for "making the desert bloom". The PA called the statement "inappropriate, false and discriminatory" and accused von der Leyen of using an "anti-Palestinian racist trope". The European Commission has requested clarification from the Palestinian authorities regarding their response. The PA is calling for an apology from von der Leyen, claiming that her message "dehumanizes and erases the Palestinian people and falsifies their rich history and civilization".