HarperCollins UK Apologizes for Eliminating Israel from Global Atlas

Posted on January 4, 2015

HarperCollins UK has issued a formal apology for one of the biggest editing fails of all time: it omitted the country of Israel from a popular atlas it sells. The Catholic publication The Tablet discovered the bizarre map which shows the shape of Israel on the map with no name. Gaza and the West Bank are shown, however.

The Tablet reports that it spoke with the UK subsidiary that prints the maps, Collins Bartholomew. The company explained that the atlases were to be used in schools for English speaking children throughout the middle east. Collins Bartholomew said that the locals prefer that maps not mention Israel, so HarperCollins removed the reference in deference to those "local preferences." You know, those local preferences that Israel not exist in any way, shape or form. It's unclear how long this has been going on.

After the story ran, there was an international outcry by both Jews and Christians over the omissions. HarperCollins author Alex Brummer wrote in The Tablet, "The offending map shows the West Bank marked immediately adjacent to the Gaza strip as if Israel did not exist. In effect, HarperCollins achieved what the former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatened at the stroke of a pen: wiping Israel off the map."

HarperCollins UK has agreed to pull the atlas from sale and pulp all the remaining copies. It issued an apology on Facebook saying, "HarperCollins regrets the omission of the name Israel from their Collins Middle East Atlas. This product has now been removed from sale in all territories and all remaining stock will be pulped. HarperCollins sincerely apologises for this omission and for any offence caused."

The lukewarm apology did not go over well with many Christian and Jewish readers, who have blasted HarperCollins on its Facebook page. Abraham H. Foxman, the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League was a bit more forgiving. He issued a statement saying, "We welcome Harper Collins' swift apology and pledge to remove the offensive atlas from sale. The initial explanation offered by Collins Bartholomew rationalizing Israel's omission was unacceptable and highly offensive."

Foxman then said that the accuracy of an educational publication is crucial and must outweigh any political and commercial concerns. He noted that, "In an environment like the Middle East where Israel's legitimacy is frequently sought to be undermined, it is especially vital to ensure young people have access to accurate and unbiased information, and not false narratives denying Israel's existence and sovereignty."

He then threw HarperCollins a bone by saying he was sure it was just an "isolated lapse of judgment and that Harper Collins' integrity and reputation for producing accurate high quality educational material will continue to guide the company to publish materials which are factually correct and free of any bias towards Israel."

HarperCollins UK clients' need to deal with the fact that Israel exists. To print maps which purport to be accurate, but which deliberately omit an entire country is an outrage.