Shame on HarperCollins for publishing an atlas of the Middle East and deliberately omitting Israel from the map. Tablet Magazine reported (December 31):
“Collins Bartholomew, the subsidiary of HarperCollins that specializes in maps, told The Tablet that including Israel would have been ‘unacceptable’ to their customers in the Gulf and the amendment incorporated ‘local preferences’.”
Tablet also reported:
“The publishers HarperCollins is withdrawing from sale an atlas that omitted Israel from its maps after the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said it was harmful to peace efforts in the Middle East.
The Tablet’s story about the Middle East Atlas which shows Jordan and Syria extending all the way to the Mediterranean Sea was widely reported and caused an international outcry. Collins Middle East Atlases, were sold to English-speaking schools in the Muslim-majority Gulf and publicity about their existence has embarrassed the publishing giant.”
While HarperCollins deserves a huge helping of New Year’s shame for its unconscionable deed, the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales deserves our gratitude, though the omission was far more than simply being “harmful to peace efforts in the Middle East.”
This omission constitutes a denial of the historical record, the delegitimization of the state of Israel and the creating of an alliance of the book publisher with those who would deny the right of the Jewish people to a state of our own. This constitutes anti-Semitism, pure and simple, or at the most it indicates the catering to classic anti-Semitism. The omission was also a denial of the United Nation’s charter and Israel’s membership in that august body representing the family of nations.
See http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/12/living-in-a-world-gone-mad-2.php
Rabbi John Rosove's Blog 
Hi John,
I hope this finds you and your family well.
I too was appalled by the HarperCollins case (it made this morningâs news on Israel Radio), but John Hinderakerâs response elicited a wry smile (âIf we can solve the worldâs problemsâ¦â).
I have my own little example. I carry with me in my guide-bag a map of Israel (yes, it acknowledges us), prominently showing the Green Line. The West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and adjacent areas of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Sinai are clearly shaded in light green (sovereign Israel is in white). It was given to me by a guest many years ago, at a time when it was difficult to find such a map in Israel, because local map-makers (especially government bodies) ignored the distinction between pre- and post-1967 Israel â an ideological position that is still very much alive today.
My map was published in Germany, but the English version was printed in the US. It has served me well as a graphic for explaining the territories captured by Israel in 1967.
But hereâs the point: The map is not a âphysicalâ map (showing elevations and physical features in different shades of green and brown). It is a road map, showing route numbers, and distinguishing between different grades of road (local, regional, super-highways, etc.). It naturally includes all cities and towns, and even many kibbutzim and other small communities.
But the map does not show a single Jewish settlement beyond the Green Line.
While that may be consistent with leftist wishful thinking, it must surely have been confusing for motorists in those territories to suddenly be confronted by of substantial towns and villages along the way that simply donât appear on their road map.
Cartography with an agenda.
Jill joins me in sending you, Barbara and the boys our warmest wishes for the New Year.
Mike
John,
Thank you for being aware of this and posting your critique. I enjoy the scope of your interests, way beyond just being the senior rabbi of our esteemed congregation.