MIDDLE EAST: Boycott of Paris book fair over Israel

A decision to make Israel the guest of honor at the upcoming Paris book fair has angered Muslim countries around the world. On Saturday, Iranian authorities announced that they would boycott the five-day book fair.

Iran wasn't the first country to opt out of the fair. It may not be the last.

The Salon du Livre is a huge event in France and on the international book publishing circuit. The festival, which begins March 14, draws thousands of authors from around the world. (Full disclosure: My wife will be promoting her book at the fair.) This year, about 39 writers from Israel will be honored on the occasion of the Jewish state's 60th anniversary.

"Iran was a regular participant of Paris book fair each year but this time it has refused to take part in the event protesting at the presence of the Zionist regime," Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Ali-Pour told the Islamic Republic News Agency.

But vehemently anti-Israeli Iran is merely jumping on the bandwagon as far as boycotting the bookworm fete. Lebanon announced Wednesday that it would stay away from the confab. 

"Lebanon will not participate this year in protest at the cultural event's organizers' decision to select Israel as guest of honor," Culture Minister Tarek Mitri announced.

That was a big blow for France, which considers francophilic Lebanon its cultural backyard. On Tuesday, the 50-nation Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization called on all Islamic states to boycott the event.

"The crimes against humanity that Israel is perpetrating in the Palestinian territories ... constitute, in themselves, a strong condemnation of Israel, making it unworthy of being welcomed as a guest of honor at an international book fair," the group said.

The Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported last week that representatives of 25 professional associations in Cairo sent the French Foreign Ministry a note protesting the decision to make Israel the guest of honor because of the Jewish state's alleged violations of Palestinian rights over its 60 years.

Literary and publishing groups in francophonic Tunisia and Algeria as well as the Palestinian territories and Yemen have announced decisions to stay away from the fair.

The boycott might strike some as silly, especially because the "honoring Israel" event is one of about 10 such forums at the fair. Israeli writers and artists tend to be doves, often highly critical of their government's treatment of Palestinians.

On the other hand, some say it's kind of weird to honor a country on its 60th birthday. Why not wait until 75 or 100 years? The main pavilion at the festival will be draped in Israeli flags.

One commentator at the Lebanese Inner Circle blog lambasted both the French and the Arabs for the affair:

So, why would France make such a big deal of Israel’s 60th aniversary? Or worse yet, why would Lebanon make such a big issue on France’s decision? ... It has become very common to boost an issue by banning or boycotting it. I wonder who benefits? Certainly not the Lebanese.

— Borzou Daragahi in Baghdad

Photo: An ad for the upcoming Salon du Livre in Paris describes Israel as the "guest of honor." Credit: Salon du Livre website

Comments

[Claudine Faehndrich]

please have a look at the following :
http://www.silviacattori.net/article391.html

and by the way, may I recommend Ilan Pappe's latest book : the Ethnic cleansing of Palestine (Oneworld publication, 2006)- a must read

[Salman]

It's shameful to see France honoring a country which was formed through occupation and massacre.

[Mona HARES]

I agree with Emmanuel St John.Israel was created on Palestinian Land and still worse continues unabated inflicting the most barbaric savage acts against Palestinian even threatening them of a holocaust, which is in fact is happening since last Wednesday.

[Bnejamin C London]

Arab and muslim nations have been boycotting Israe in trade, culture, sports, education etc since the creation of the sate 60 years ago, long before the 1967 war and the creation of the PLO. They never accepted the creation of the jewish state and never will. It is the job of more enlightened nations to show that this type of behaviour amongst nations is unacceptable. Israel does NOT commit "Crimes Against Humanity" but is simply denfending itself and should be honred in Book Events, or any other events as any other nation.

[David]

I never even realised I was jewish, apart from a last name and finding out one day I was 1/8 jewish, it never really meant much to me. But everytime I see the biased view of these Islamic countries it strengthens my belief in their cause: yes Israel is doing some pretty nasty things, but they are literally fighting for their lives. Arabs must realise that by giving a hostile front to Israel, they are losing many sympathizers within Israel. Stop the rocket attacks. Stop using suicide bombers... see what happens, ya know, just give it a try?

[Abe Bird]

It is quite moral to fight back an entity that was created by the Arab League of Nations ONLY as a tool to fight Israel's existence. Israel fights for her life, Arab Palestinians fight just to kill Jews and annihilate their state. That's why we all have to applaud Israel and defame all those who boycott the Paris event.

[Emmanuel St John]

It is immoral for anyone to honour an entity that was created on the remains of others and still worse continues unabated inflicting the most barbaric savage acts against them. Anyone with an ounce of decency would applaud all those who boycott the Paris event.

[Daniel]

This just goes to how immature these Arab regimes are. Despite the misinformation campaign, Israel is DEFENDING itself, not acting as the aggressor. Regardless of the situation, if Lebanon, or Iran, or whatever other Arab country were chosen to be honored, there is no way Israel would ever boycott. Ever.