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 ACCESSORIES HANDBAGS SHOES SALE TENDER 271 WEST MAPLE DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM 248.258.0212 MONDAY—SATURDAY 10-6 THURSDAY 10-8 CLOSED SUNDAYS 'TIL SEPTEMBER tenderbirmingham.com June 26 • 2008 A5