Professor Zimmet writes that the use of "Diabetes Voice" as an
example was inappropriate "as the actual facts surrounding the incident
belie the way this has been used." Most of the details of this incident
are in the public domain.[1] What the International Diabetes Federation's
apology doesn't say is that it was subject to an orchestrated email
campaign against the offending paragraph. A spokesperson confirmed that it
received hundreds of similarly worded emails, many including text drafted
by NGO Monitor (still available on its website.[2])
When it comes to the offending paragraph that cost Philip Home his
editorship of Diabetes Voice, I accept that there may have been one
substantial error. Instead of reading "In 1948, according to the UN
Conciliation Commission, 760000 Palestinians were evicted from their
cities and villages, hundreds of which were razed to the ground," the
correct wording would have been, "In 1948, according to the UN
Conciliation Commission, 711 000 Palestinians were either evicted from or
fled their homes."
Regarding the third accusation: try as I might I can't see what's
problematical about the use of the term "Palestinian people's land" to
refer to land that Palestinian people have been living on for hundreds of
years.
[1] Lèfebvre P, Silink M, Home P. Editor’s note—an apology. Diabetes
Voice 2004;49(3):17.
Rapid Response:
Re: Diabetes in Gaza: Getting the Facts Correct
Professor Zimmet writes that the use of "Diabetes Voice" as an
example was inappropriate "as the actual facts surrounding the incident
belie the way this has been used." Most of the details of this incident
are in the public domain.[1] What the International Diabetes Federation's
apology doesn't say is that it was subject to an orchestrated email
campaign against the offending paragraph. A spokesperson confirmed that it
received hundreds of similarly worded emails, many including text drafted
by NGO Monitor (still available on its website.[2])
When it comes to the offending paragraph that cost Philip Home his
editorship of Diabetes Voice, I accept that there may have been one
substantial error. Instead of reading "In 1948, according to the UN
Conciliation Commission, 760000 Palestinians were evicted from their
cities and villages, hundreds of which were razed to the ground," the
correct wording would have been, "In 1948, according to the UN
Conciliation Commission, 711 000 Palestinians were either evicted from or
fled their homes."
Regarding the third accusation: try as I might I can't see what's
problematical about the use of the term "Palestinian people's land" to
refer to land that Palestinian people have been living on for hundreds of
years.
[1] Lèfebvre P, Silink M, Home P. Editor’s note—an apology. Diabetes
Voice 2004;49(3):17.
[2] http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=21620
Competing interests:
I co-authored the editorial, "What to do about orchestrated email campaigns"
Competing interests: No competing interests