Editor's Letter
WOMEN'S
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN
Pressing Ahead
Ann Arbor
T
DESIGNER
CLOTHING COLLECTIONS
described Pluto as a publisher of books "uniformly anti-
Israel, proudly radical and often anti-Semitic in nature!' The
University of Michigan, by extension, legitimized these books.
I applaud the signatories to the letter. They included the
directors of the Anti-Defamation League/Michigan Region,
StandWithUs-Michigan, B'nai B'rith International/Great Lakes
Region, Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan
Detroit, American Jewish Committee/Detroit Chapter and the
National Christian Leadership Council for Israel.
he University of Michigan Press, popularly known as
UMP, made the right call, finally, in opting to end its
relationship as U.S. distributor for a London-based
publisher of a provocative book that essentially urges replac-
ing the State of Israel with a single secular democratic state
void of any ties to the Jewish people.
The Jewish community mobilized strongly against Pluto
Press, the independent publisher
of Joel Kovel's Overcoming Zionism:
A Curious Defense
Creating A Single Democratic State
UMP argued that its Pluto deal, which prevents any editorial
in Israel/Palestine and hundreds of
review, was strictly a business decision worth $1 million in
other politically and ideologically
annual sales, according to the Michigan Daily. UMP argued
charged books on the Middle East that that the deal didn't mean it endorsed Pluto Press' editorial
are anti-Jewish when weighed on a
philosophy. Still, Pluto became UMP's persona on Israel,
scale of reason. Israel bashers Noam
the Middle East, Zionism and Judaism. That's because UMP
Chomsky, a Massachusetts Institute
doesn't publish original works on any of those themes. UMP's
of Technology professor, and Howard
mission promotes varied perspectives, implying a balance
Zinn, a professor emeritus at Boston
in ideas. Where's the push for responsible, informed debate
Univesity, are others in Pluto's stable
about Israel? The Jewish state is open to criticism, but does
of writers.
Pluto's drumbeat against its existence need to carry the
Kovel, a Jewish social studies professor at Bard College in
unwitting imprimatur of the University of Michigan?
Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., seems proud of his anti-Zionist
I applaud U-M regents Andrea Fischer Newman, Laurence
beliefs. "In any case he writes in his book, "what is wrong
Daitch and Andrew Richner for criticizing the UMP-Pluto
with the Jewish state is the fact of being a Jewish state!' In his
Press partnership after StandWithUs first brought it to light.
view of the world, Zionism translates to Jewish power and
Few universities maintain formal guidelines for their press'
dominance. Similar views in the past led to bigotry, pogroms,
distribution and marketing agreements given the business
ghettos and the Holocaust.
nature of the partnerships. Peggy McCracken,
Pluto Press boasts a self-described radical
JOEL KOVEL
a U-M associate dean and UMP board chair,
political agenda. It doesn't maintain a library
defended
a free and open exchange of ideas on
OVERCOMING
of high scholarship or significant research. It
campus
but
also told the Washington-based
ZION ISM
can hide behind freedom of the press. But the
Chronicle of Higher Education: "Distribution
University of Michigan, because it is not a pri-
clients are money-making arrangements but
vate institution, must be held to higher scrutiny.
we wanted the profit-making arrangements to
Reasonable people would reasonably assume the
conform to our values!' In effect, she's saying the
prestigious university would vet titles bearing
contract termination wasn't because of Pluto
UMP on the book binding.
Press' publications, but rather its lack of a peer
My immediate reaction to the contract ter-
review identical to a university press.
mination, which takes effect at the close of this
From my vantage point, the issue was never
selling season on Dec. 31, was, "What took so
one of free speech or academic freedom but
long?" UMP has been the sole U.S. distribu-
rather hate and prejudice disguised in a com-
tor of Pluto Press' anti-West, anti-Semitic and
mercial money-making agreement. Student
anti-Israel propaganda texts since 2004, according to the Los
groups joined in the outrage against Pluto Press, a welcome
Angeles-based pro-Israel lobby StandWithUs.
sign that Jewish students no longer are intimidated or unpre-
pared to stand with Israel in debates or discussions with pro-
Change Of Heart
Palestinian apologists.
On June 17, Kelly Cunningham, director of the U-M Office of
Public Affairs and Media Relations, informed me via e-mail
In Real Time
that the U-M Press Executive Board had completed a review
Given it broke the publishing contract based on its own find-
of all current UMP distribution clients.
ings, UMP should consider earmarking all or some of this
"After careful examination;' she said, "the board determined year's Pluto profits for scheduling speakers or other campus
that the Pluto Press mission and procedures are not reason-
initiatives that fight anti-Semitism. We Jews haven't faced so
ably similar to U-M Press as specified by the guidelines and
much anti-Semitism in Europe and Arab lands since the hey-
therefore do not meet the requirements to continue as a dis-
day of Nazi Germany. We remain scapegoats for the world's
tribution client!'
ills with Israel dubbed the Great Satan.
A notice of agreement termination was issued on June 12;
Overcoming Zionism is a wild, bold, scary assault on the
six months' notice was required.
Zionist pillars that support Israel. In it, Kovel declares that
UMP was wrong to distribute Pluto Books or promote the
Zionism must be confronted. He calls for undoing the "rac-
enterprise on its Web site. The belated decision to terminate
ist core of the Zionist state." He seeks dissolution of "the
is not surprising. My guess is that the agreement would still
Jewishness of the state!'
be in force had the leaders of six pro-Israel organizations not
sent a Nov. 27 letter to the U-M Board of Regents. That letter
Pressing Ahead on page A6
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