The Simon Wiesenthal Center says the book, in a series that has “sold over 10 million copies to young Koreans,” recycles “various Jewish conspiracies like Jewish control of the media and money, Jews profiting from war,” and others. “The Center urges Koreans of goodwill whatever their political, ideological or religious affiliation to denounce this bigotry and strongly suggest that if they wish to know the truth about the Jewish people and their values they should reach out to their Jewish neighbor,” its associate dean is quoted as saying. The center’s website includes a protest letter to Gimm-Young Publishers.

A series of cartoons in the America volume of ‘Distant Countries and Neighboring Countries’ saying the reason Arab terrorists hate the U.S. and carried out the Sept. 11, 2001 attack is because ‘Jews use money and public discussion as weapons to make WASPs do what they want.’

Suzanne Scholte of the activist group Defense Forum Foundation, which publicizes rights abuses in North Korea, also protested about the contents of the book to Korean politicians and groups by e-mail. The center singles out cartoons that suggest Arab terrorists hate the U.S. because “Jews use money and public discussion as weapons to make America do what they want,” and “American public debate belongs to the Jews.”

Rhie apologized for hurting Jewish feelings and said he was neither anti-Semitic nor out to criticize Jews. “I drew the cartoons based on data I gathered while living in the U.S. for two years,” he said. Rhie added the hope that the matter will not damage relations between Jews and Koreans and promised to revise the offending parts. Gimm-Young in a statement said it will replace the controversial sections in future revised editions.

(englishnews@chosun.com )