Paris book fair causes uproar by honoring Israeli writers

[Martel]

Paris book fair causes uproar by honoring Israeli writers

The Associated Press

PARIS: Israeli writers will be the toast of the Paris international book fair in March — but some Arab intellectuals argue that honoring Israel's literature has brought dishonor upon France.

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization urged its 50 member states this week to boycott the March 14-19 event. The fair's organizer said Friday that he regrets the uproar — he wanted to honor books, not take sides in international politics.

"I'm not a government minister, my job is to bring literature to readers," Serge Eyrolles told The Associated Press. "I'm very surprised by how political this is getting. It was not at all our goal, which was to invite Israeli literature, not the state of Israel."

Each year the international fair puts the spotlight on one country. This year it is inviting 39 writers from Israel, including David Grossman, Amos Oz, A. B. Yehoshua and Aharon Appelfeld. A similar controversy is brewing about the May book fair in Turin, Italy, which is also highlighting Israeli works.

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said its boycott call was a "response to the special standing (the fair) gives to Israel despite its atrocities, oppression and imposed starvation and siege against the Palestinian people."

It also argued that the Paris fair celebrates the 60th anniversary of Israel — a claim Eyrolles denies. He said it was merely coincidence, as Israel has asked to be honored for five years in a row but there was a waiting list. Many of the Israeli writers being honored are firm supporters of Palestinian statehood, he said.

Lebanon announced Wednesday that it would boycott the Paris event, a decision that French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said was "extremely regrettable."

Eyrolles, who is president of the National Publishing Union, said national publishing representatives from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria had canceled their stands at the fair, though he says some writers, publishers and booksellers from those countries will nonetheless attend.

Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan, who supports the boycotts in Paris and Turin, argued on his blog that "all women and men of conscience — a category by no means restricted to Palestinians or Arabs" should protest because "the guest of honor is a country that refuses to respect the rights and the dignity of peoples."

"Common sense should be our guide: The international community's silence over the plight of the Palestinians is shameful enough without adding insult to injury," he wrote.

Moroccan writer Tahar Ben Jelloun took the opposite point of view in a blog entry about the Turin fair.

"Criticize the policies of a state. Criticize a novel on its literary merit. That's possible," he said. "But don't mix up the two things and create even an even bigger lack of understanding."

[MichaelF]

should protest because "the guest of honor is a country that refuses to respect the rights and the dignity of peoples."

So, he'll start with EVERY ARAB COUNTRY ON EARTH, then?

[oldsoak]

What ?! The Israelis can produce writers, thinkers, philosophers ?!
I dont believe you ! It is politically inconvenient !

[TopolA]

Well, Sarkozy is their president...

[Snoshi]

Well, Sarkozy is their president...

Oh noes.. Its a Jewish conspiracy!! Because not a single president on earth would invite Israeli writes or show Israeli books!! :roll:

[IDF_TANKER]

Well, Sarkozy is their president...

Yeah, this damn Zionist brownnoser...

[C.MAXIMUS]

Well, Sarkozy is their president...

Very wise note Osama

[Deurzakker]

To be quite frank, the Arabs have no real place at a fair like that, there aren't all that many renowned Arab writers nor great thinkers alive anyway.

[Alfacentori]

Ahh Yes another evil Zionist plot to take over the world on book fair at a time!

Why does it seem like you can't step on a ant these days without offending "Islamic Honour" these days p-)



Alfa

[Mu-Meson]

Clearly the arabs are upset. When you look at it the writers of all their most popular books they are all dead. Hitler and Mein Kampf, Czarist secret police and the Protocols etc etc.

[Mr.Flint]

Im curious, is Salman Rushdie featured on that book fair?p-)

[Bongopete]

The 'international community' is silent about the Palestinians? Seems like we hear about them all the time.:roll:

[Parx400]

Aww yes, mega rasist islam at its finest. I think the arbas should be banned from the event next year for descimination. That and a bottle of no more tears.

[Kaplanr]

I raise a toast (alcohol if you please) to the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for their open-mindedness, sense of curiosity and inability to display an iota of critical thought.

[Laworkerbee]

Well, Sarkozy is their president...

I like the way you think son.

[Warlord]

How do you spell "tolerant religion"?

[LaoSexMachine]

"Religion of tolerance and peace" is just a new catch phrase after 9/11

[Martel]

Well, Sarkozy is their president...
Can you explain ?

[Benhurmarcel]

Can you explain ?

Maybe the fact that sarkosy is not as pro arab as Chirac and all the président since the général ?

[Dominique]

To be quite frank, the Arabs have no real place at a fair like that, there aren't all that many renowned Arab writers nor great thinkers alive anyway.

That has to rank as one of the most asinine statements I've seen posted here in quite while.

[Ratamacue]

That has to rank as one of the most asinine statements I've seen posted here in quite while.Agreed. Just because you haven't heard of them, doesn't mean they don't exist.

[Deurzakker]

Agreed. Just because you haven't heard of them, doesn't mean they don't exist.
Agreed, that however doesn't mean that hey exist and all indications are that they don't.

[Moledet]

Agreed, that however doesn't mean that hey exist and all indications are that they don't.
For a good reason, the good ones are usually thrown in Jail.

[domokun]

For a good reason, the good ones are usually thrown in Jail.

Or they are called <insert a western country> based immigrant writers...p-)

[Dominique]

Agreed, that however doesn't mean that hey exist and all indications are that they don't.

I'm sure you've spent many hours searching through the thousands of works produced by Arabs, and have the concrete facts to back up your statement. If not, don't post silly ass comments that are nothing more than flame bait.

[Deurzakker]

I'm sure you've spent many hours searching through the thousands of works produced by Arabs, and have the concrete facts to back up your statement. If not, don't post silly ass comments that are nothing more than flame bait.
I have, proof me wrong, feel free to come up with nobel prize winners, pulitzer price winner and so on.

[Ariha]

"Islamic Educational, SCIENTIFIC and Cultural Organization". I bet that with the performance in these areas, but specially in the scientific one, with a 6 sq.meters office and a semi-illiterate secretary they have more than enough.

[Moledet]

Or they are called <insert a western country> based immigrant writers...p-)
True, but I think they do better in Jail, after all they have all the time in the world to write and jail has created some of the world's most important existential debates like, are you locked inside jail or is everyone locked outside of it? ;)

[Telmar]

I have, proof me wrong, feel free to come up with nobel prize winners, pulitzer price winner and so on.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1988/

Here's one.

You are wrong on so many levels in this.

[Deurzakker]

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1988/

Here's one.

You are wrong on so many levels in this.
One, indeed, and he's dead.

[Dominique]

I have, proof me wrong, feel free to come up with nobel prize winners, pulitzer price winner and so on.

You know what they say about opening your mouth and proving you're an idiot? You're a smart guy, so I'll let you figure out the rest.

[NimDod]

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1988/

Here's one.

You are wrong on so many levels in this.

You went back 20 years and found Naguib Mahfouz that Due to his outspoken support for Sadat's Camp David peace treaty with Israel, his books were banned in many Arab countries (until after he won the Nobel prize).

And like many Egyptian writers and intellectuals, Mahfouz was on a "death list" by Islamic fundamentalists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naguib_Mahfouz

and yeah, he's no longer alive.

[LRPV]

Methinks we need a new word for a new concept. WE need a word that describes any religious militant fanatic. Tying "militant" and "Islam" still manages to encompass though indirectly, the Islamic world. These fanatics need to be publicly divorced from their religion and given their own little pigeon-hole in the media and day-to-day conversation.

[Dominique]

Methinks we need a new word for a new concept.

How's religious fanatic work for you? It works fine for me, as there are many others I could lump into the same category from every major religion I can think of.

[Ariha]

Methinks we need a new word for a new concept. WE need a word that describes any religious militant fanatic. Tying "militant" and "Islam" still manages to encompass though indirectly, the Islamic world. These fanatics need to be publicly divorced from their religion and given their own little pigeon-hole in the media and day-to-day conversation.

What is a mistake in the first place is calling "religion" to some sects for the mere fact that they´ve grown to proportions difficult to handle.

[muttbutt]

Surely the Jooooos don't write book's!, that would make them human and take away the time they need to eat babies and plot world domination?

[KoTeMoRe]

One, indeed, and he's dead.

Oh oh and a Pulitzer is the ultimate reconnaissance proof? Damn we've got the very symetrical kind of people in here.

Mhh...

[LRPV]

How's religious fanatic work for you? It works fine for me, as there are many others I could lump into the same category from every major religion I can think of.

You missed my point as "religious fanatic" is quite obviously not what I was referring to in my post. Someone that is fundamentalist in any religion is not necessarily a militant with a violent disposition. Praying 'X' times per day, following dietary laws may be an anachronism to some and an observance to others, but it does not in itself represent a threat to others.

[LEGEND]

If those writers withdraw just because Israel is a guest of honor, good riddance, just shows the caliber of what kind of writers they are. Not a big loss, I doubt anyone will miss them.

[KoTeMoRe]

If those writers withdraw just because Israel is a guest of honor, good riddance, just shows the caliber of what kind of writers they are. Not a big loss, I doubt anyone will miss them.

Writers with opinions may they be acceptable or not to some. I'm more affraid by writers without opinions, that usually make precious "useful idiots".

Speaking of caliber for litterature is funp-).

[Snoshi]

Methinks we need a new word for a new concept. WE need a word that describes any religious militant fanatic. Tying "militant" and "Islam" still manages to encompass though indirectly, the Islamic world. These fanatics need to be publicly divorced from their religion and given their own little pigeon-hole in the media and day-to-day conversation.

:)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6685/extremiststs5.jpg

[KoTeMoRe]

:)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6685/extremiststs5.jpg

EPIC fail...you missed muslim in your add.p-)

[kamaz]

Islamic... Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization


sounds like an oxymoron

[BPEL]

It's too bad Lebanon did not attend. We tried hard to push the Lebanese writers to go but the word from the government was not approved. Truly sad.

[filochard]

It's not only religious extremists: there is some countries that banned there writers to come that we wouldn't have expected to be among the religious extremist retards.

Pretty insulting to France if you ask me.
There is some that should reconsider there education standard imo.

[filochard]

Fact is that even countries like Lebanon got infested by religious extremist cleric's poison.
France always had the most balanced policy between Israel and the Arabs. Since De Gaulle, that's 40 years that France ask Israel to return to the pre 6 day war frontiers, that she refuse to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and there is still an embargo on weapon trade. In 40 years that did not changed an inch. France stand firm cause that is the right thing to do. We have NO lesson to recieve !
Now some dirty, stupid mysticos want to give us some lesson ? what they want to pressure France ?
France invited some Israeli authors, they are our guest and need to be respected as such !
Fvck the morons, France in her history killed more extremists clerics than any other country and man there is some day how I wish we had the occasion to revive this good old tradition !

[Atlantic Friend]

Surely the Jooooos don't write book's!, that would make them human and take away the time they need to eat babies and plot world domination?

And surely the horrible, terrible French are antisemites who spend most of their spare time rounding up Jews for Nazis or Arabs ?

Oh, noes ! The world has got all complicated a-gain !

[Bongopete]

That bookfair surely isnt still going on is it??? What are those French trying to do!?

[filochard]

That bookfair surely isnt still going on is it??? What are those French trying to do!?

It's over I think. Well I guess it went without the morons who boycotted it. Not a big loss. Still I feel sorry the authors that wanted to come but were forbidden by there government. Sure that for the retarded extremist clergy, intelligence is the biggest threat.