Book that fans flames of anti-Semitism ignites new conflicts.

Byline: Chauncey Mabe

Nearly a century after its publication, the world's most evil book continues to cause mischief.

In April, Internet booksellers Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com took the unprecedented step of slapping a disclaimer on their Web sites regarding the notorious anti-Semitic forgery, "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion." This followed a massive e-mail protest and an investigation by the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent national Jewish organization.

The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," concocted by the Czarist secret police in 1903, details a plot by Jews to take over the world. Before World War II, it inspired anti-Semites around the world _ including Adolf Hitler and Henry Ford, who arranged for its publication in the United States.

It lost most of its power and influence in the aftermath of the Holocaust, but between the world wars "The Protocols" was reportedly the most widely published volume in the world except for the Bible; it contributed directly to the climate of Judeophobia that enabled the Nazis to kill 6 million Jews in the Final Solution.

And this was despite being conclusively proved a forgery as early as 1921.

While "The Protocols" is taken seriously only by hate groups today, Jews understandably remain touchy on the subject, as Amazon and Barnes & Noble discovered this spring. Before that, the book was being sold with a note from the publisher implying its historical authenticity. That has been removed, replaced with a warning from the Anti-Defamation League.