The academy was set up in 1985 with the aim of providing a high quality education for the children of Saudi diplomats and other Muslim families in London. Among its pupils are children of Abu Hamza al-Masri and Abu Qatada, jailed extremist clerics. The academy, which is registered in Britain as a charity, has more than 600 pupils. Mr. Cook is taking legal action against the school, alleging that he suffered racial discrimination because he was not a Saudi and that he was unfairly dismissed after blowing the whistle on systematic cheating at a GCSE exam.

Head teacher Dr. Sumaya Alyusuf at first denied that anti-Semitic material was used in the school. Later she backtracked, saying, "The controversial pages are not taught and have been misinterpreted. However, in view of this public interest I have decided to remove these pages."

In Bloody Passover: European Jews and Ritual Murder, a book so controversial the first edition sold out within days of publication, Italian-Israeli historian Ariel Toaff, who teaches medieval and renaissance history at Israel's Bar-Ilan University, revived investigations into the ancient blood libel, the accusation that Jews murdered Christian children for religious purposes.

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Taken aback by the furor that the book aroused, Professor Toaff asked the publishers to halt its distribution (see new story, page 3, and letter from Prof. Toaff, page 5). He claims his views have been misinterpreted by the media. Bar Ilan University issued a statement conveying its "great anger and extreme displeasure for Professor Toaff's lack of sensitivity in publishing his book."

A group named Independent Jewish Voices, consisting of writers, intellectuals and show-business luminaries, has been formed in Britain to counteract what it believes to be unqualified support for Israel. The group voices its "frustration with the widespread misconception that the Jews of this country speak with one voice and this voice supports the Israeli government's policies."

Independent Jewish Voices, critics have been quick to note, has expressed no concern about the way Jews are portrayed in Islamic media, the anti-Semitic messages of hate taught in the classrooms and issuing from the mosques, the Internet and from Islamic retail stores.

Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies, commented: "What most people find uncomfortable is not the existence of debate but the identity of those with whom groups like these tend to ally themselves and whose anti-Israel and anti-Jewish credentials are impeccable."

To coincide with its launch, the group invested in full-page ads in leading newspapers at a cost of $80,000. Members of IJF appear to be intent on demonstrating that not all Jews support Israel. Their opinions are representative of a tide of animus against Israel amongst the left wing-intelligentsia that traditionally criticises and opposes the Jewish state. These articulate, well-connected people fuel criticism of Israel and further the desire of some elements in British society to do it harm.

On the other side of the fence, the Fair Play Campaign Group has been formed with the intention of deflecting an expected boycott on the part of the University and College Union, which holds its first congress at the end of April. UCU is widely expected to repeat the example of former union congresses and attempt to impose an academic boycott of Israel. The Fair Play Campaign Group recently hosted a meeting in Jerusalem, attended by leaders of British Jewish community organizations and senior officials and academics from Israeli universities, which looked at ways to combat any such boycott attempt.

The author of a book titled The Hitler We Loved and Why and who described the Nazi leader as "a decent and very peaceful man" has been sentenced to five years in jail by Judge Ulrich Meinerzhagen in a German court. Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel was convicted of 14 counts of inciting racial hatred and for denying that the Nazis killed six million Jews during World War II.

Zundel, who left Germany for Canada in 1958, was considered a threat to national security and deported by Canada back to Germany in 2005. During his time in Canada Zundel ran a website and is said to have distributed a publication called "Germania Rundbrief," which denied the Holocaust took place. Zundel's attorney, Ludwig Bock, said he would appeal.

Denying the Holocaust is a crime in Germany, punishable by three months to five years in prison. During its current presidency of the EU, Germany is seeking to extend the criminalization of Holocaust denial across Europe. Berlin has also been pushing a continent-wide ban on Nazi symbols, though the Germans failed in a similar attempt two years ago in the face of objections from several governments, including the British. The German justice minister has indicated she is confident of winning support this time.