Hasbro apologizes for removing 'Israel' from Monopoly game after slew of complaints

JERUSALEM (RNS) — Toymaker Hasbro Inc. has apologized for deleting the word “Israel” in an online contest to determine which cities will be featured in its World Edition of the board game Monopoly.

Hasbro has since deleted all references to countries on its contest site.

“We would never want to enter into any political debate,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, a mid-level person made a series of regrettable decisions without consulting senior management. We apologize for any upset this has caused our Monopoly fans.”

The company said last Feb. 21 that an employee had deleted the word “Israel” following demands by pro-Palestinian activists not to recognize Jerusalem as part of Israel.

Hasbro’s about-face followed an online campaign by Jewish groups to flood the company with complaints.