DES MOINES - Iowa GOP Spokesman Luke Wolff released the following statement regarding Art Staed's public support of anti-Israel group Veterans for Peace:

"Veterans for Peace has referred to District 40 State Senate candidate Art Staed as a 'great advocate and supporter' of their group. Veterans for Peace celebrated the radical pro-Palestinian protests/encampments on our universities that became violent towards Jewish students, has desecrated September 11th, and used anti-Israel rhetoric in their posts. Radical support for pro-Palestinian efforts can be linked to support for Hamas, as support for Hamas in Gaza has increased. Art Staed wants the public to know that he is aligned with a group like Veterans for Peace, and we agree - Iowans should know where Art Staed's beliefs land."