Friday, February 29, 2008

Hats Off to Lebanon!

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

Lebanon is the first Arab government to announce a boycott of the event, which runs March 14 through March 19, after organizers announced that 39 Israeli writers were being invited to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state.

"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 50-nation Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said.

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