Customers voiced strong objections to a globe sold at Selfridges that prominently labels Palestine in capital letters while omitting Israel from the map. The high-end department store quickly removed the illuminated, rotating world map from its shelves at the Oxford Street flagship location.
Details of the Mapping Issue
The globe clearly marks neighboring countries like Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, along with their capitals. It employs a numbering system for some smaller nations, represented by numbers and a separate key. However, the application appears inconsistent: Cyprus receives its full name, while Israel—more than twice its size—is designated simply as number 30. Palestine, spanning up to 2,400 square miles including Gaza, stands out prominently, whereas Jordan, covering 34,000 square miles, is numbered.
Selfridges’ Response and Removal
Selfridges confirmed the product’s withdrawal after determining it could cause offense. The retailer explained: “We have investigated this with the supplier, who confirmed the globe uses a method of cartography where some countries, such as Israel, are numbered on the map and listed on a separate key. It’s extremely important to us that we create an environment where everyone feels welcome and our customers can shop with confidence, which is why we made the decision to remove the item from sale.”
Public Backlash
Pro-Israeli activist Max Radford accused Selfridges of ‘cancelling’ Israel, noting over 700 complaints received by the store. One customer expressed outrage online: “I am disgusted this was on the shelves of your store. It is factually incorrect and all stock of it needs to be disposed of.”
Selfridges was previously owned by British Jewish businessman Sir Charles Clore, after whom a beachfront park in Tel Aviv is named.
