A secondary school textbook that asks pupils “how it could be argued that the creation of Israel was a long-term cause of the 9/11 attacks” has been removed from sale by its publishers after prompting widespread outrage.
The Board of Deputies said the question, which featured in Understanding History: Key Stage 3: Britain in the wider world, Roman times – Present, was “dangerous” and “feeds into a prevalent antisemitic conspiracy theory”.
Board vice President Edwin Shuker said: “It invites the students to find a link between the creation of Israel and the 9/11 terrorist attacks - which feeds into a prevalent antisemitic conspiracy theory.
“This is an outrageous warped version of history. How this was allowed into a textbook to be used in our schools is a cause of great concern. It should immediately be withdrawn and investigated.”
The book, published in 2019 by Hodder Education, is aimed at 11 to 13-year-olds. The question on Israel and 9/11 comes following a section on Israel and Palestine under the heading "Muslim mistrust of the West, 1900-66".
Co-written by Michael Riley, Alex Ford, Kath Goudie, Richard Kennett and Helen Snelson, the book was originally highlighted on social media by antisemitism campaigner and researcher David Collier.
Hodder Education Group on Thursday said the textbook had been removed from sale, adding it would publish a revised issue following a review.
It said: “We appreciate the phrasing of the question is not as precise as it might have been and we are very sorry for any offence this has caused."
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