The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians threatens the project By Barbara Plett in Cairo A plan to translate Arab authors into Hebrew has run into strong opposition after eight months of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians. An Egyptian writer is the latest to pull out of the programme, organised by an Israeli publishing company trying to foster mutual understanding.
Opponents refuse to deal with Israel while there is no full peace.
Pointless' Author Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid liked the idea when he first heard it. He thought the Andalus publishing house in Israel had selected progressive Arab works for translation. According to him, its promotional material even said that proceeds from the series could be sent to the Palestinians. But he has pulled out after the project came under attack from members of Egypt's intelligentsia. Many have long opposed contacts with Israeli writers because they do not want to imply that full peace exists.