Books boycotted

Voicing indignation over the spotlight planned for Israel during the upcoming Turin International Book Fair, Italy’s largest, Arab writers have announced their boycott of the event. Upon learning that, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state, Israel will be the guest of honour during the fair, scheduled for May 8 to 12, the Union of Arab Writers sent a  letter to event organizers, calling the commemoration a ‘provocation’. In response, Ernesto Ferrero, director of the fair, stated ‘This is a book fair, it is not the United Nations, it is not a political office. The Israeli writers that we invited are usually critical toward their government. The fact that other writers are talking about their freedom of expression, seems to me incredible’.