HarperCollins omits Israel from atlases sold to Mideast schools

January 3, 2015

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.

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

January 3, 2015

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 25^th 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

Israel Withholds Tax Review in Retaliation for Palestine ICC Bid

January 3, 2015

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

JERUSALEM, Israel/Palestine – The Israeli government has halted the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinians following the Palestinian Authority’s bid to join the International Criminal Court, Israeli officials said on Saturday. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced earlier this week that Palestine seeks to join the ICC in The Hague primarily for the purpose of pursuing war-crimes charges against Israel, specifically in regard to last military offensive in Gaza. The move is intended to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the occupied territories that Palestinians demand for a future state. The Palestine bit at the ICC follows a failed motion last week in the U.N. Security Council to set a 2017 deadline for a Palestinian state to be established. President Abbas signed the Rome Statute on December 31, the signing ceremony was broadcast live on Palestine TV.

Palestinian boys carry a poster of President Abbas during a rally marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah movement, at Qalandia refugee camp near Ramallah January 1, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Haaretz)

The Israeli government said $127 million collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority last month would be held back. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the decision to withhold the revenue in consultation with senior ministers on Thursday an Israeli official told said. These tax revenues make up two-thirds of the annual budget of the Palestinian Authority, excluding foreign aid. The funds are critical for the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule, and is used to pay the salaries for its public employees.

Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organization, said of the Israeli government’s actions that the move showed that Israel was scared over the move to join the ICC. “Israel collects our customs and our taxes for us so then when they withhold these funds it means that this month people will not be able to pay the schools, the hospitals, the medical supplies, the milk and bread, so they are trying to suffocate the whole nation,” Erekat said. “It shows that when it comes to enforcing collective punishment, they are punishing 4 million Palestinians, starving them, because they want to act with impunity,” he added. “This shows the legitimacy of what we are doing in the ICC.”

In addition to the tax revenue freeze, an Israeli official said that the Israeli government was “weighing the possibilities for large-scale prosecution in the United States and elsewhere” of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials. Israel would probably press for these cases through non-governmental groups and pro-Israel legal organizations capable of filing lawsuits abroad.

When asked about the possibility of Palestinian leaders, particularly members and leaders of Hamas, being pursued for war crimes, Palestinian Ambassador to the U.N. Riyad Mansour said that the option was “political posturing.” “We are not afraid of the judgment of the law, especially international law,” he said, speaking at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Friday.

Palestinians seek a state in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War. Momentum to recognize a Palestinian state has been building since Abbas succeeded in a bid for de facto recognition at the U.N. General Assembly in 2012, which made Palestinians eligible to join the ICC. In 2012 the Israeli government froze review transfers to the Palestine in retaliation for Palestine’s launch of a campaign for recognition of statehood at the United Nations.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Israel to Freeze Tax Payment to Palestinians over ICC Bid – 3 January 2015

BBC News – Israel Freezes Palestine Tax Funds over ICC Bid – 3 January 2015

The Jerusalem Post – Abbas Signs Rome Statute, Paving Way for Possible War Crimes Probe against Israel at ICC – 31 December 2014

Haaretz – Israel to Halt Transfer of Tax Revenues to Palestinians Following ICC Bid – 3 January 2015

War Crimes Prosecution Watch Volume 9 – Issue 20 December 29, 2014

January 3, 2015

Swedish Mosques Burned in Multiple Targeted Attacks

January 3, 2015

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