Ankori Libel Suit
A review by Massad of the book Palestinian Art, written by Israeli art history professor Gannit Ankori, was the subject of a libel suit in Britain. In the review, Massad accused Ankori of illegitimately appropriating the work of Kamal Boullata, a Palestinian artist and art historian, a charge which Ankori viewed as defamatory.
The review appeared in Art Journal, a publication of the College Art Association of America, (CAA). To settle the suit out of court, the CAA agreed to issue an apology to Ms. Ankori, to pay her $75,000.00 and to send a letter to its institutional subscribers, stating that the Massad review “contained factual errors and certain unfounded assertions.” Massad acknowledged "minor errors", but not libel, and accused the CAA of cowardice. CAA executive director Linda Downs told the Forward that, while "there were mistakes" in the review, the journal agreed to pay only because it could not afford to fight out the case.
Read more about this topic: Joseph Massad
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