And from the "can you really hate that much?" desk:


Award-winning Algerian author denied cash prize for visiting Israel
Arab ambassadors withdraw prize from Boualem Sansal because he attended Jerusalem Writers Festival; Hamas accused him of ‘treason’ against the Palestinians

ell-known Algerian writer Boualem Sansal received a prestigious French literary award Thursday. However, he did not get the prize of 15,000 euros he had been slated to receive, as the fact that he had visited Israel prompted the Arab sponsors of the prize to withdraw their support, according to a report by French24.
. . .

Commenting on the decision to withdraw the prize money, laureate Sansal said it was “completely unacceptable,” adding that Arab countries – and his home country, Algeria, in particular – had “shut themselves in a prison of intolerance.”

Sansal added that in order to truly help the Palestinians, individuals like himself should be able to visit Israel freely. “Yes, there are complicated relations with Israel, but we are not at war with them,” he said.

French cultural figures were quick to denounce the council’s decision as a capitulation to Hamas pressure.
. . .
A spokeswoman for the Arab Ambassadors Council claimed the council’s decision had not been influenced by the Hamas statement on the matter.

However, she said, “The Ambassadors are subject to the official position of the Arab League which considers itself effectively in a state of war with Israel. The council is obliged to follow directives from the Arab League. Every ambassador regrets that this has happened. They would never want to interfere with literature.”

full article:
www.timesofisrael.com/known-algerian-wri...

Please note that the emphasis in the above paragraph was supplied by me. I think it never hurts to remind people that the ARAB WORLD considers itself at war with Israel and the 3 no's  are still in full force and affect. It is always nice when the Arabs remind the world that they are unrepentant in their denial of the national rights of the Jewish people and their intention to destroy Israel. It is something which the world seems to forget all the time. I sure hope that Ms. Ashton and the EU are paying attention.