University of Michigan Press To Continue Publishing Joel Kovel's "Overcoming Zionism" After Initially Dropping Book

We turn now to an important victory in the battle for free speech here in the United States. Last week the University of Michigan Press voted unanimously to continue distributing books from the London-based independent publishing house Pluto Press. The controversy began earlier this summer when the university press decided to stop distributing a new book by author and activist Joel Kovel published by Pluto Press. It's called "Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine."

The press dropped Kovel's book in August after receiving a series of threatening emails from a right-wing pro-Israel group called Stand With Us. But faced with a growing campaign led by fellow academics and civil libertarians, the board overturned its earlier decision regarding distribution of Kovel's book. Last week's key decision to continue ties with Pluto Press came in the midst of a series of events organized around what right-wing groups called "Islamo-Fascism Awareness week."

Joel Kovel is an anti-war activist and former Green Party candidate for Senate. He is the author of over 10 books. "Overcoming Zionism" is his most recent book. He joins me now in the firehouse studio in New York. Welcome to democracy now!

• Joel Kovel, activist and author of over 10 books. His latest book was temporarily dropped by University of Michigan after an initial controversy. It's called "Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine."

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