Washington, DC (April 25, 2000)- National Geographic has rejected requests to correct or qualify the misleading assertion that Jerusalem can be labeled Israel's capital. The decision followed expressions of concern from American Muslims and others over a children's game that labels Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Israel's claim to the holy city is rejected by overwhelming international consensus.
National Geographic's response to community concerns states "it is our policy to show de facto situations on all of our maps and other products from National Geographic Society. Jerusalem, as the administrative capital of Israel, is no exception. It is our position that we cannot be partial to one country or another; we can only show the situation as it exists..."
In a letter to National Geographic, AMJ executive director Khalid Turaani states, "I agree wholeheartedly that you should show the defacto situation. But that requires demonstrating that Israel's claim to Jerusalem is disputed by the entire world community except Costa Rica and El Salvador."
In Turaani's letter past examples of National Geographic qualifying Israel's claim to the city are listed. One such example is a map accompanying a December 1968 article titled "Reunited Jerusalem Faces its Problems." A notation on the map reads "both the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations have protested the Israeli annexation (of Jerusalem) by overwhelming votes, asking for international control of the disputed city according to the Palestine partition plan of 1947."
"We regret that National Geographic has elected to adopt a position that shows no concern for the accurate education of either children or adults," said AMJ communications director Fahhim Abdulhadi. "The status of Jerusalem has not changed recently and world consensus still rejects Israel's claim to the city. Why then would National Geographic change the way it presents Jerusalem?"
Action Requested: (always remain polite)
Contact National Geographic and urge them to be impartial in their presentation of Jerusalem's status. Polite phone calls and faxes are best in this case.
Mary Jeanne Jacobsen, National Geographic Society 1145 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688 Phone: (202) 857-7027 Fax: (202) 828-6679 E-mail: Jacobsen@ngs.org
cc: Mrs. Kathleen F. Teter, Vice President, Communications Fax: (202) 429-5716 E-mail: Teter@ngs.org
Talking Points: 1) By listing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on your products without any kind of qualification you are not addressing the defacto situation on the ground. All but two nations (Costa Rica and El Salvador) do not recognize Israel's claim to Jerusalem.
2) National Geographic should be impartial as it educates. Jerusalem is disputed and this reality should be reflected on all National Geographic Products.
AMJ is sponsored by: American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslim Council (AMC), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim American Society (Ministry of Imam W.D. Mohammed), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
American Muslims for Jerusalem
208 G Street NE
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 548-4200
Fax: (202) 548-4201
E-mail: amj@amjerusalem.org
WWW: http://www.amjerusalem.org
