NEW YORK (VINnews) — The publisher of a children’s book is facing intense backlash, after publishing a map of the Middle East that excludes Israel. One Amazon reviewer called the book “shameful”, while another said it promotes “ethnic cleansing of Jews.”
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The book, written for children aged 9-13, entitled “Amazing Women of the Middle East” by Wafa Tarnowska, contains a vivid map of the Middle East, however Israel is nowhere to be found. The country is replaced by “Palestine”, despite all the surrounding countries being labeled accurately.
In addition, the book does not mention a single “amazing woman of the Middle East” who comes from Israel.
In the U.S., the book is published by Crocodile Books, part of Interlink Publishing, and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Its UK based publisher, Pikku Books, specifically promotes the book as an educational tool for schools.
One organization, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), is calling on the publishers to recall the book and reprint it with the correct map, adding it is likely illegal to be used in UK schools.
According to the organization’s website, Director Caroline Turner said: “This is a very attractive book, and it is a great idea for children to read about amazing women of the Middle East. However, to have excluded Israel from the map of the Middle East, and to have excluded all Israeli and Jewish women from the book is misleading and biased, and tends to promote a view of the Middle East that completely delegitimizes Israel.”
Several Amazon reviews, quoted on the UKLFI website, point out the disturbing omissions:
“So disappointed in this book as it omits the only JEWISH state in the Middle East! Therefore I found this book to be extremely misleading & extremely dishonest! I will not be reading this book to my grandchildren it is totally unfit for purpose!”
“Lovely looking book but doesn’t represent all the different communities amazing women. No Jewish women are present in the book. Which seems a deliberate act because there are plenty to choose from. If you want a book that promotes the ethnic cleansing of Jews this is for you.”
“I can’t believe that the author doesn’t believe that Israel is a Middle Eastern country. Surely the most inspiring woman Golda Meir elected Prime Minister in 1969 deserves a mention? This happened in the days when women were thought to be found only in the kitchen, or raising children. A true inspiration!”
Wafa Tarnowska, huh? Either an Arab or a Pole. Either way, don’t expect a lot of warmth toward Jews from this person.
“Wafa Tarnowska ” , what else would she write !!!!!
Everyone should take a minute or two, find the book on Amazon and mark the one star reviews as helpful. I just did that now. That will help slow down the sales (at least until Amazon pulls the reviews not fitting their agenda).
Haven’t we done that as well in everyone of our papers or magazines they are removed
Skk ok why are you screaming
This is not anti-Jewish. It is anti-Zionist. As a Jew, I do not care if some children’s book does or does not have the Zionist State included on its map.
In fact, if it does have the Zionist State on its map, my preference would be for it to be labeled as such, as it is, as Zionist, not Jewish.
Honestly, I have other things to worry about.
Sounds like the book was written by Satmar
But seriously, are we really kvetching about erasing women??
… a little self awareness, please.