The Jewish community here has denounced the omission of Israel from a map being distributed at the World’s Fair. The map, contained in a brochure at the Saudi Arabian pavilion, shows the Saudi kingdom and its Arab neighbor states, with Israel’s territory presented as part of Jordan.
The brochure was brought to public attention after it was given to members of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at the fair. “It is striking that the Saudis have used this opportunity to achieve through cartography what they … have been unable to achieve through officially supported international terrorism,” said a statement quoted by Susan Limor, a spokeswoman for the group.
Tennessee’s Governor Lamar Alexander criticized the map as well, saying it presents a “strange view of the world.” Agreeing that the map was inaccurate, fair president S. H. Roberts said the brochure “does not represent the 1982 World Fair’s management, beliefs or policies.”
But he added that no attempt would be made to prevent further distribution of the brochure. “We feel that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the right to control materials distributed within their pavilion and (we) would not attempt to interfere with that right,” Roberts said. The representative of the Saudi pavilion said he would not succumb to pressure and that the map would continue to be distributed.
Israel does not have a pavilion at the fair due to economic reasons, according to a spokesman for the Israel Trade Commission in New York City.
There will be no Bulletin dated May 28 because of the Shavuot holiday and there will be no Bulletin dated May 31 because of Memorial Day, a postal holiday.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
