BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, calls itself a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. But under its Macmillan Reference USA imprint, Gale has published a print and online version of an Encyclopedia of Race and Racism that includes a chapter on Zionism. Zionism, the expression of the Jewish peoples historical, religious and legal right to their homeland in the Land of Israel, has nothing to do with racism. The subject of Zionism doesnt belong in a reference book on these topics.

After complaints to Gale/Macmillan, the publisher posted a statement on its Web site apologizing to those who objected to the Zionism chapter, and directing readers to the Web sites of organizations that had complained. Gale/Macmillan also promised to supplement the online version of the encyclopedia with articles reflecting other perspectives on Zionism.

Gale/Macmillans response is inadequate and unacceptable. It doesnt address the falsehoods in the existing chapter equating Zionism with racism and its undertones of anti-Semitic bigotry that help to delegitimize Israels right to exist. Including any articles about Zionism in a book about racism gives legitimacy to the ugly lie that Zionism is somehow related to racism. The United Nations odious resolution that equated Zionism with racism was immediately condemned by the United States and was repealed in 1991. Most of the countries that equate Zionism with racism are themselves racist, denying rights to Christians and Jews. Now, Gale/Macmillan, a U.S. publisher, is disseminating and promoting the same ugly anti-Semitic lie. There is only one way that Gale/Macmillan can correct the harm it is causing: It must delete the Zionism chapter from the online and print editions of the encyclopedia, so that no reader will be left with the false impression that Zionism is related to racism or that this is even a legitimately debatable issue.

To: Gale/Macmillan:

As individuals dedicated to factual accuracy in educational publications, who abhor all forms of racism and anti-Semitism, we urge you to remove the chapter on Zionism from the online and print editions of your Encyclopedia of Race and Racism.

We find it appalling for any publication that considers itself responsible, scholarly and moral to link Zionism the Jewish national movement with racism. Linking Zionism to racism is nothing more than anti-Semitism. Those opposed to the State of Israel have used the charge that Zionism is racism to delegitimize Israels right to exist. Your encyclopedia is promoting that ugly lie.

Including other articles in the online edition of your encyclopedia will not mitigate the harm that Gale/Macmillan is causing. That would leave the problem in the print edition completely unaddressed. And it would give legitimacy to the false, inaccurate and hateful notion that Zionism has something to do with racism, when it doesnt.

We call on you to live up to your stated commitment to accurate and responsible scholarship. Stop promoting an ugly Zionist-racist lie. We urge you to immediately remove the chapter on Zionism from the online and print editions of the Encyclopedia of Race and Racism.