Rabat – French children magazine Youpi was removed from kiosk sales in France and Belgium after claiming that Israel is not a “real country.”
The magazine told the Associated Press (AP) on December 26 that the January edition was withdrawn from newsstands after writing that Israel is among the few states in the world that are not “real countries.”
“There are 197 countries, like France, Algeria or Germany. There are a few more, but not all other countries in the world agree that they are real countries (for example the State of Israel or North Korea),” wrote the magazine.
Bertrand Fichou, the magazine editor said that he “humbly apologizes” for what he described to be a “mistake,” adding that his aim was not to doubt Israel’s existence. The editor of the magazine for children from 5 to 8, added that he will blame himself for this mistake “for all his life.”
The magazine has sparked outrage on social media, where Jewish people around the world condemned the magazine’s claim.
Israel ambassador to France Aliza Bin Noun took to her Twitter account to denounce the Magazine’s claims.
Choquée par ce mensonge enseigné à des enfants. Une telle réthorique ne peut qu’inciter à l’antisionisme, indissociable de l’#antisemitisme comme l’a rappelé le Président français @EmmanuelMacron pic.twitter.com/X0KBrGfknl
— Aliza Bin Noun (@AlizaBinNoun) 24 décembre 2017
“Shocked by this lie taught to children,” said the ambassador. Tagging French President Emmanuel Macron, Bin Noun added that “such a rhetoric can only encourage anti-Zionism, inseparable from anti-Semitism.”
Kalifat Francis, president of the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF) told i24News that “unintentional or international, I do not know. I prefer to think it is unintentional.”
He added that “Israel has been recognized as a sovereign state since 1948 and by the United Nations since 1949.”
youpi did that!! pic.twitter.com/GGeOKSm30m
— blm (@dvrkIight) 26 décembre 2017
French children’s magazine: Israel not a real country https://t.co/w95TnvoSNe. Another ridiculous treatment of Israel, irresponsible, irrational and illogical.
— Set Condition Zebra (@MrPerry8) 25 décembre 2017
