UNITED KINGDOM (VINnews) — In a win against antisemitism, the UK publisher of a book that erased Israel from the Middle East has removed it from its website.
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The move came days after a Jewish legal group warned that in addition to being biased against Israel, the so-called “educational” book might be illegal to be taught in British schools.
As reported by VINnews, the children’s book 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 the surrounding countries like Jordan and Syria being labeled accurately.
In addition, the book does not mention a single “amazing woman of the Middle East” who comes from Israel.
UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLI) warned Pikku Publishing that due to its political indoctrination against Jews, which is defined as “the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject”, the book might be illegal in UK schools.
Caroline Turner, director of UKLI, responded to the major development, saying “It is good news that the UK publisher has removed the book from sale. It is shocking that a book for children in the UK could have presented such a misleading picture of the Middle East..”
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, promotes the book as an educational tool for schools.
The letter requested the publishers revise the book with an accurate map, and mention at least one ‘Amazing Woman’ from Israel. The warning appears to have worked, at least partially, as Pikku has removed the book from its website.
Interlink, the U.S. publisher, still lists the book on its website.
In addition, UKLFI asked major sellers, including Amazon, not to sell the book until it is revised.
Several Amazon reviews, quoted on the UKLFI website, point out the egregious 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!”
Unfortunately, this book is still on Amazon – and there are many anti-semitic comments who are liking it.
A guten Shabbos to all !
It is good they made the correction.
This book is available in 20 branches of the Brooklyn Public LIbrary! Including branches in Flatbush, Williamsburg, Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Midwood, Kensington, Eastern Parkway.
Except this was anti-Zionism only, not antisemitism.