British Author Has Harsh Words for Israel

Jakarta Globe, February 21, 2011

Renowned British novelist Ian McEwan accepted an Israeli literary prize in Jerusalem on Sunday with harsh criticism of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, after British writers called on the author to stay home because of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians.

At an acceptance ceremony for the Jerusalem Prize, McEwan praised Israel’s technological and artistic advances but asked, “Where is Israel’s political creativity?”

The novelist rebuked the “nihilism” of the Islamic militant group Hamas, which has called for the destruction of Israel and has fired rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli towns.

He also criticized Israel with the same term, saying “it is nihilism to make a long-term prison camp of the Gaza Strip.” 

AP