US President Joe Biden praised a speech by the US Senate leader urging new elections in Israel, saying many Americans shared concerns about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza war. The call by Democratic Senate majority chief Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking elected Jewish American in history, was the most strident rebuke of Israel […]
Read MoreYou couldn’t get away from Gaza at Adelaide Writers’ Week
It was a balmy afternoon at Adelaide Writers’ Week and hundreds of us were sitting in the sun under the trees, listening to the writers. And then journalist John Lyons plunged us into a different world. “By the time this session ends,” he said, “three or four Palestinian children will have been killed. Five bombs […]
Read MoreLiterary festivals play an important role in public discussions of tough topics
Truth Be Told. A fitting theme for any literary festival, but especially relevant for one featuring so many Palestinian voices on the program.
Read MoreAdelaide Writers’ Week: rare moments of empathy and nuance found amid a storm of controversy
All in all, as several people cheerfully told me over the course of the week, it made for the most lively AWW since feminists turned up to picket the poet Ted Hughes in 1976.
Read MoreWriters’ festival feels ‘Streisand effect’
The decision by festival director Louise Adler to feature a dozen poets and authors from the Palestinian diaspora led to an impassioned chorus for the prestigious festival to be cancelled or de-funded, or at least for two particular visitors to be un-invited. Some sponsors withdrew their support amid public calls for Adler to resign.
Read MorePlenty of Palestinian passion but no debate at festival
The panel congratulated itself: critics had not been able to silence the debate! To which any fair-minded person might have said: what debate?
Read MoreTerror victim ‘was human garbage’, says Adelaide Writers Week author
A Palestinian author appearing at Adelaide Writers Week has described a Jewish-American civilian murdered by terrorists in Israel this week as “human garbage” who deserves no sympathy.
Read MoreAuthor claims to be victim after her latest outburst
Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa, who is set to appear at Adelaide Festival Writers’ Week, has claimed she has been subjected to a “smear campaign” after calling a Jewish-American civilian killed in Israel “human garbage”.
Read MoreWriters festival must not embrace anti-Semitic hate
There is a clear and present danger when superstars who are public anti-Semites such as Ye, previously known as Kanye West, plan to visit our shores. Many rightfully argued Ye should not receive a visa on character grounds, given his public statements promoting hatred could encourage those with similarly repugnant views. When it comes to […]
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