News

HarperCollins omits Israel from atlases sold to Mideast schools

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Middle East

It is no secret that Middle East relations, particularly those between Israel and its neighbors, are particularly tumultuous. Israel and Palestine have been embroiled in a struggle for the land that is currently recognized as Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, for over 60 years.  As of 1948, the international community, including international governmental bodies, such as the United Nations, has acknowledged the legitimacy and sovereignty of Israel. But while this legitimacy is acknowledged by many international actors, it is not universally accepted, particularly by other Middle East countries.

harper-collins
Israel Label Missing from the Atlas – Photo courtesy of The Telegraph

Map making company Collins Bartholomew, a subsidiary of HarperCollins, responded to buyers of school supplies for English speaking schools in the Middle East by releasing an edition of a map of the Middle East that does not label the region typically recognized as Israel with the name Israel. Instead, it labelled as Gaza and the West Bank. As some of Israel’s neighbors do not acknowledge Israel’s legitimacy, or allow maps into their respective countries that label the disputed land as Israel, Collins Bartholomew took a chance with buyers with this release of the map of the Middle East.

Many are outraged by Collins Bartolomew’s response to map buyers who refuse maps labeled with Israel. The company asserted that the decision was merely to appease opposed buyers and appeal to local preferences. The Tablet, a Catholic organization, contended that the decision by the company to omit Israel to appeal to the palette of specific buyers, only serves to undermine peace and de-legitimize Israel’s presence in the Middle East.

On the other hand, the company did not label the region Palestine, rather labelled the region by two, longstanding names of specific parts of the area, Gaza and the West Bank. While topically, the decision seems confusing and irrational to many, particularly to those who recognize Israel’s right to exist, on a deeper level, the decision appears to acknowledge that all countries have different understandings of what is right, wrong, legitimate, and acceptable. In responding to a known preference of some countries in what they choose to recognize, Collins Bartholomew created this controversial map.

The company has now responded to the outcry against this map by ceasing sales, and destroying the remaining stock of the map. The situation begs the question, will the bath the company must now take on the production of this map, in combination with lost sales from angry buyers, be worth the initial production of the map for a select number and group of buyers. From a business perspective, the decision to produce the map seems odd and irrational, from a social perspective, the map speaks volumes about current sentiments and anger regarding the existence of and legitimacy of Israel.

 

For more information, please visit:

The Telegraph- HarperCollins omits Israel from school atlas– 31 Dec. 2014

The Washington Post- HarperCollins omits Israel from maps for Mideast schools, citing ‘local preferences’– 2 Jan. 2015

The Independent- HarperCollins pulls map excluding Israel from sale amid accusations of ‘anti-Semitism’– 2 Jan 2015

Haaretz- HarperCollins omits Israel from atlases sold to English-speaking Mideast schools– 31 Dec. 2014

 

Air Strikes on Misrata, Libya

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

Misrata, Libya-

Since the over throw of Mommar Guddafi in 2011, during the rash of international uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, often referred to as the Arab Spring, Libya has struggled to remain stable, and civil war has permeated the nation. The internationally recognized government of Libya was forced out of Tripoli in August by an Islamist militant group called Fajr Libya, which translates from Arabic to English as Libya Dawn. Since August, the recognized government has been operating out of Tobruk, a city over 800 miles away from Tripoli.

Attacks on misrata
Attacks on Misrata- Courtesy of The Daily Times

Forces loyal to the internationally recognized government launched a missile strike on Misrata, an important port city that remained largely untouched by the civil war and conflict. The city has become a stronghold for Islamist militia groups. Among the sites in the city attacked, was an air force academy in the city, as well as the airport. The attack has been cited as a retaliatory response to the attacks on December 25th attack carried out by Islamist militia Fajr Libya that killed 22 government soldiers, in an attempt to gain control of an oil port. The government affirmed its role in the attack on Misrata, and at least one government official asserted that the attack brings Libya, “a step closer to victory.”

The country’s inability to re-stabilize will likely present further challenges to peace and security in Libya, as government loyal groups and Islamist militant factions vie for control of the country. Oil ports have already begun to close in response to the civil violence, which in turn, has led to drastically reduced oil production. Indeed, the closing of these ports have already reduced production by 300,000 barrels of oil each day. Despite calls for peaceful resolution to the current civil war, it does not seem that peace will be a likely, or attainable outcome without serious attempts by both sides to reduce violence as a means to securing control of Libya.

For more information, please see:

The Telegraph- Libya descends into chaos as air strikes hit Misrata– 28 Dec. 2014

Al Jazeera- First air strikes hit Libyan city of Misrata– 28 Dec. 2014

Reuters- New air strike on Libyan city Misrata, clashes near oil port– 3 Jan. 2015

 

Swedish Mosques Burned in Multiple Targeted Attacks

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Over the past twelve months there have been 14 attacks on mosques in Sweden, with three arsons alone in the past week. With no suspects and praise online, it appears that these recent attacks fall in line with a rising “Islamophobia” sentiment in Sweden.

People add hearts to the front of a mosque that was firebombed, calling it a “love bombing.” (Photo courtesy of Vox)

In addition to the recent arsons, there have also been several accounts of vandalism with racist remarks and symbols attached to mosques and even cars of Muslims. Muslim women claim that they are harassed on the streets on The Swedish Democratic Party, a popular nationalist political party, has also increasingly been adding fuel to the anti-immigrant movement. Sweden Democrats have pushed for a 90% reduction in asylum seekers allowed into Sweden due to the fact that roughly 16% of Sweden’s population is foreign-born, many from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Sweden accepts more asylum seekers per capita than any other nation in Europe, and expects over 100,000 asylum applications this year; Sweden Democrats aim to change that.

While Sweden Democrats aim to make change through political means, others have taken matters into their own hands. On Thursday, a mosque in Uppsala was attacked with a petrol bomb, although the building did not catch fire. Not long before, however, arson at a mosque in Eskilstuna injured five people. Social media praise claims that these attacks intend to intimidate and scare away Muslims. Some of the anti-Muslim sentiment comes from the fact that Sweden has one of the highest rates of ISIS recruits in Europe and reports of sleeper cells within Sweden.

In response to the rising Islamophobia, Muslims have staged a rally in Stockholm to raise support for Muslims across the nation. Further, the rally aims to solidify the validity of a Muslim political acceptance in Sweden, essentially affirming the high asylum rate and combatting Sweden Democrats’ proposed changes.

For more information, please see:

NDTV – In Sweden, the Land of the Open Door, Anti-Muslim Fervor Finds a Foothold – 3 January 2015

The Sydney Morning Herald – Sweden hit by third mosque arson attack – 2 January 2015

Vox – Thousands of people in Sweden show the right way to respond to Islamophobia – 2 January 2015

BBC – Sweden protest after three mosque fires in one week – 2 January 2015

The Local – Sweden’s Islamophobia is getting stronger – 2 January 2015

As Lithuania Seeks Further European Union Alignment, Russian Aggression Remains High

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

VILNIUS, Lithuania – In what may be a move of defiance against Russia, Lithuania is moving to the Euro. This comes in light of recent events over the past several months involving Russian aggression directed towards a number of NATO countries, particularly Lithuania and other Eastern European nations.

Major Linas Pakutka stands before two of his units within Lithuania’s new task force. (Photo courtesy of The New York Times)

Lithuania has only 6% of its population who are Russian speakers, despite the much higher percentages in many bordering countries and also its proximity to Russia. Even so, Russia continues to show aggression that has found some landing in Lithuania. The waters off Lithuania have seen recent Russian military exercises just off Kaliningrad that have involved up to 9,000 troops and 55 ships.

In addition, NATO has had to scramble jets to intercept Russian aircraft over 400 times this year, already more than three times the amount as last year. The number of instances involving Russian jets flying with their radars off and coming close to commercial airlines continues to increase as well and has many worried that a mid-air collision is imminent. This is all in addition to the Russian incursion in Eastern Ukraine and the questionable Russian annexation of Crimea in Southern Ukraine earlier this year.

While not obligated to defend Ukraine from a military invasion due to the lack of protection for Ukraine under Article 5 membership, NATO has answered Eastern Europe’s worries about Russia by creating a rapid response task force should Russia invade a country near Ukraine with Article 5 membership that requires military aid. For Lithuania, however, this new task force is taking too long to take effect, and so Lithuania has created its own fast response task force. While Lithuania’s active military of roughly 8,000 does not size up well to Russia’s military of over one million, Lithuania would like to be prepared to respond within a day of any Russian invasion of the Baltics, Poland, or Romania. “We would go into action in the initial, self-defense phase to buy some time until NATO can get here,” says General Tamosaitis.

Even a Lithuanian archbishop has spoken out about the Russian threat to Lithuania, fearing that “the front could move forward if the international community fails to stand firm.” Archbishop Gintaras Grusas further went on to say that “the information and propaganda war which preceded the military action against Ukraine is very much underway here, too.”

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Russia growls across the border as Lithuania readies for euro – 21 December 2014

The New York Times – Ukraine Crisis in Mind, Lithuania Establishes a Rapid Reaction Force – 19 December 2014

Catholic Herald – Lithuanian archbishop fears Russia attack on Baltic states – 16 December 2014

Business Insider – Lithuania’s Military Is On Alert After Russian Activities In A Baltic Sea Exclave – 10 December 2014

Reuters – Lithuania may supply weapons as part of military aid to Ukraine: minister – 26 November 2014

15 Serbs and Bosnians Arrested on War Crimes from 1993 Massacre

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina – 15 people have been detained in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina for their alleged involvements in the torture-murder of 19 people in Bosnia back in 1993. The 15 were detained via a joint effort by law enforcement in both countries.

This is the gym where 19 victims were taken to be tortured before being brought to their ultimate execution place in a house along the Drina River. (Photo courtesy of Denver Post)

More than 20 years ago, a train traveling from Belgrade, Serbia to Montenegro, passed through Bosnia and was stopped at the Strpci depot by Bosnian Serb militia members. 18 Bosnian Muslims and a Croat were removed, beaten, and taken by truck to a school gym where they were subsequently stripped, tortured, before being again ushered to a house along the Drina River where they were ultimately shot. The bodies were dumped into the Drina River after, and only three have since been recovered (all in 2010 when Peruac Lake was drained to repair a dam). Only one low-level soldier has previously been convicted for part in this massacre.

Last Friday, a joint operation led to the arrest of 5 Serbs and 10 Bosnians for their alleged involvement in the 19 murders; three names of the 15 detained are of particular importance. First, Luka Dragicevic was a Bosnian general in charge of military operations in the area at the time of the massacre. Second, Gojko Lukic, brother of Milan Lukic, was also detained. Milan Lukic was a Bosnian Serb warlord who is regarded as the mastermind of the ethnic-cleansing that allowed for this massacre, and Milan Lukic was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 by the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Third, Boban Indjic, a former close associate of Gojko Lukic, was also among the 15 arrested.

These new arrests are the result of a year-long investigation into the massacre. Many have blamed the political systems for failure to arrest those responsible for over 20 years, and now the arrests are met with praise by many. Some, however, are protesting the arrests. Milovan Markovic, father-in-law of “Momir,” claims “[h]e did nothing, no war crimes.” Further, some Serbians may still see the killers as war heroes, and some of the responsible parties have since been involved in business, politics, police, and the army. However, Vladimir Vukcevic, Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor, Bruno Vekaric, Serbian deputy war crimes prosecutor, and Goran Salihovic, Bosnia’s chief prosecutor, all are praising the arrests of these 15 individuals for their alleged involvement in the massacre.

For more information, please see:

The Denver Post – Serbia, Bosnia make 15 arrests in Balkan war massacre – 6 December 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina Arrest 15 People for Suspected War Crimes – 5 December 2014

Deutsche Welle – War crimes arrests in Bosnia and Serbia – 5 December 2014

The New York Times – 15 Serbs Are Arrested in Connection With 1993 Massacre – 5 December 2014