HarperCollins Map for Mideast Students Leaves Out Israel

A map from HarperCollins aimed at Middle East schools has been getting a lot of one-star reviews on Amazon, and it's not because the colors aren't pretty. The map, which HarperCollins says was "developed specifically for schools in the Middle East," doesn't mention the existence of Israel, the Washington Post reports. Why? Well, according to company subsidiary Collins Bartholomew, the map follows "local preferences"; showing Israel would have been "unacceptable" to those customers, Collins Bartholomew told the Tablet.

But it seems HarperCollins has changed its mind about the map. The company says on Facebook that the "product has now been removed from sale in all territories and all remaining stock will be pulped. HarperCollins sincerely apologizes for this omission and for any offense caused." A Catholic bishops' conference was the first to point out the missing country. (More HarperCollins stories.)