Publisher HarperCollins has been plunged into a storm of controversy after publishing an atlas that omits Israel in deference to customers from the Gulf region.
According to The Tablet, Collins Middle East Atlases, which are sold to English-speaking schools in the Muslim-majority Gulf, depict Jordan and Syria extending all the way to the Mediterranean.
A spokesperson for Collins Bartholomew, the HarperCollins subsidiary specialising in maps, told The Tablet that the amendment reflected "local preferences".
However, Bishop Declan Lang, chairman of the Bishops' Conference Department of International Affairs, accused the publisher of harming peace efforts in the Middle East. He told The Tablet: "The publication of this atlas will confirm Israel's belief that there exists a hostility towards their country from parts of the Arab world. It will not help to build up a spirit of trust leading to peaceful co-existence."
Dr Jane Clements, director of the Council of Christians and Jews, said: "Maps can be a very powerful tool in terms of de-legitimising 'the other' and can lead to confusion rather than clarity. We would be keen to see relevant bodies ensure that all atlases anywhere reflect the official UN position on nations, boundaries and all political features."
The publisher issued a statement 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."
Judging by comments on social media, the offence caused was considerable. Posts on the publisher's Facebook site accused it of anti-Semitism, with many threatening to boycott its products in future.
