Ending the Lancet’s Role in Demonization: Analysis of editor Dr. Richard
Horton’s Visit to Israel
NGO Monitor
October 02, 2014
http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/ending_the_lancet_s_role_in_demonization_analysis_of_editor_dr_richard_horton_s_visit_to_israel

As Dr. Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet medical journal, completes his
visit to Israel, and following his statement made this morning at Rambam
Medical Center (Haifa), NGO Monitor released the following statement:

Dr. Richard Horton came to Israel following intense criticism of his
activities as editor of The Lancet. In this visit, he has expressed regret,
condemned the contributors to The Lancet who promoted explicitly antisemitic
materials, articulated a new understanding of Israeli realities,
particularly the complexities of the Arab-Israel conflict, and pledged a new
relationship with Israel.

On this basis, and in light of the revelations regarding antisemitic
comments and materials disseminated by Drs. Manduca and Swee Ang, it is
urgent that the July 2014 “An Open Letter for the People of Gaza” be removed
from The Lancet's website and a formal retraction and apology be published
prominently, both on the website and the next hard copy issue.

Furthermore, in examining the past decade of Dr. Horton’s practices at The
Lancet and looking forward, it is vitally important that unambiguous
guidelines be established and fully implemented, to prevent further
instances of the following:

◦Publication of authors who have endorsed racism and antisemitism, as in the
case of Drs. Manduca and Swee Ang, with specific reference to their
promotion of the David Duke video and other antisemitic materials;

◦publication of non-scientific opinion letters, articles, and other material
that demonizes Israel and grossly distorts the Arab-Israeli conflict, such
as the July 2014 “An Open Letter for the People of Gaza”;
◦publication of scientific articles and abstracts referring to Israel1 in
the absence of a blind peer review process;
◦sponsorship and publication in any form of activities and related material,
including those involving political advocacy NGOs, from which professionally
qualified Israelis are excluded.

In addition, it is important that The Lancet undertake positive initiatives
to accurately inform the medical community of Israel’s contributions to
medicine, as well as the close cooperation that takes place between
different sectors of the population.

In order to accomplish these criteria and ensure their implementation, we
urge the establishment of cooperative follow-up mechanisms regarding issues
related to Israel and The Lancet, in order to prevent a return to the
demonization of the past. In addition, it is important to review Lancet
articles related to Israel published since 1 January 2001, determine whether
and which articles fail to meet established scientific standards, and to
issue retractions.
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1 For example, “The Wounds of Gaza,” Swee Ang Chai, February 2009,
retracted after 28 days citing “factual inaccuracies”; “Childbirth at
checkpoints in the occupied Palestinian territory”, Halla Shoaibi, July 5,
2011