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David Grossman speaking at last year's Rabin rally in Tel Aviv. (Dan Keinan)
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Last update - 01:53 08/11/2007
Author David Grossman snubs Olmert upon receiving prize
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Uri Grossman 

Author David Grossman, upon receiving the Emet Prize for Arts, Science and Culture, did not shake the hand of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert or Supreme Court President Justice Dorit Beinisch at the awards ceremony Wednesday night in the Jerusalem Theater.

Grossman, whose son Uri was killed during fighting in the Second Lebanon War, said in a speech at last year's rally commemorating assassinated former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin that "at this time there is no king in Israel... our leadership is hollow."

In the speech, he addressed Olmert directly, saying, "Certainly I am grieving, but I am more pained than angry. This country and what you and your friends are doing to it pains me."
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The organizers of the awards ceremony were told in advance that Grossman did not intend to shake Olmert's hand, and the prime minister was briefed beforehand. He did not stand or approach Grossman when he received his prize.

After the ceremony, the famed author said, "I don't shake the prime minister's hand. I assume you can understand the reason." Beinisch said she was not surprised by Grossman's silent statement, and said, "I shook Grossman's hand earlier."

The Emet Prize is a $1 million prize awarded by the Prime Minister's Office and the Alberto M. Nissim Foundation. The prize was divided this year among 11 recipients, including former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak and writer Sami Michael.


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      1.   Grossman - Extreme Lefty Kook 22:55  |  Tod Zuckerman 07/11/07
      2.   Lashing own leadership,cringing for pals,"talk to them" 23:13  |  Absolute Sweden 07/11/07
      3.   He is right, we need more like him Israel 23:27  |  Reader 07/11/07
      4.   grossman 23:51  |  David 07/11/07
      5.   Yes, Reader, he is right 23:55  |  sh 07/11/07
      6.   this guys has balls 23:56  |  Gabriel 07/11/07
      7.   Did not shake hands with olmert 23:57  |  marcel 07/11/07
      8.   Certainly his Right to Do So, but... 23:58  |  Erik 07/11/07
      9.   Good post #1 and #2 00:15  |  SLAVO 08/11/07
      10.   I am going to go buy one of his books 00:51  |  Jewish/Catholic 08/11/07
      11.   I respect Grossman`s right to do this, as I once refused to shake 00:58  |  mea too 08/11/07
      12.   grossman 01:03  |  balanced 08/11/07
      13.   OLMERT WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH MAHMUD. YECHHH)))) 01:42  |  VOICE)))))))) 08/11/07
      14.   HOW EASILY YOU NASTY RIGHTISTS CONDEMN A MAN WHO HAS LOST HIS SON 02:43  |  David 08/11/07
      15.   Well done David 04:10  |  Sam (UK) 08/11/07
      16.   Grossman-Thank you 04:35  |  Roz Goldberg 08/11/07
      17.   #1: 07:37  |  Michael Steiner 08/11/07
      18.   Idiocy on both sides. 07:44  |  Ilan 08/11/07
      19.   Olmert couldn`t care a damn 08:39  |  Michael 08/11/07
      20.   To Roz #16....nice sentiments but.... 08:47  |  GrossedOut 08/11/07
      21.   You can all kiss Grossman`s a.. 09:04  |  Maral 08/11/07
      22.   How to treat a complete shit 09:33  |  Clickfool 08/11/07
      23.   Why shake the hand of someone you can`t stand? 09:46  |  D. Halutz 08/11/07
      24.   Just imagine if a Beitar mobster refused to shake Olmert`s hand 09:59  |  Judith, Haifa 08/11/07
      25.   i am an extreme rightist 10:19  |  harzion 08/11/07
      26.   do not put david grossman in a meaningless category 10:23  |  harzion 08/11/07
      27.   i rather think we can do without dorit beinisch and her comments 10:25  |  yirmiyahu 08/11/07
      28.   "i am speaking to you tonight as someone whose 10:31  |  yahashkel 08/11/07
      29.   Maral 11:16  |  sh 08/11/07
      30.   Olmert issued the killing order for his son! 11:35  |  Michelle 08/11/07
      31.   Seems rather hypocritical 11:44  |  Neo Scientist 08/11/07
      32.   maral to israel "you snakes" 11:56  |  yirmiyahu 08/11/07
      33.   sh 11:59  |  Maral 08/11/07
      34.   harzion....kol hakavod!! 12:21  |  Ofer 08/11/07
      35.   To Ofer....Grossman is just plain lefty crazy 12:37  |  SLAVO 08/11/07
      36.   tod potzman 13:02  |  leoncio 08/11/07
      37.   absolute sweden 13:05  |  leon butensky 08/11/07
      38.   Don`t Get Too Full Of Yourselves Clickfool And Sons 14:18  |  Yosemite 08/11/07
      39.   To SLAVO....you are just plain lefty crazy... 15:00  |  Ofer 08/11/07
      40.   Grossman has brought the real lives of Israelis to the world 18:33  |  Just Sam 08/11/07
      41.   talk about snakes 18:50  |  peter 08/11/07
      42.   Bravo, Grossman 19:48  |  David 08/11/07
      43.   Hard to refuse all that money 20:27  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 08/11/07
      44.   To Ofer...I just re-read your post...still think its garbage 21:02  |  SLAVO 08/11/07
      45.   Mr. Grossman it pains us all.... 21:13  |  Dutch 08/11/07
      46.   Why not refuse the cheque? 22:01  |  Motic 08/11/07
      47.   As a parent, my hart goes out for Grossman 23:08  |  TOMY 08/11/07
      48.   Grossman killed his own son 00:12  |  Aaron 09/11/07
      49.   Peter is right. Grossman accepted the $1 million 06:59  |  Jake 09/11/07
      50.   Shooting the man at Marathon for bringing GOOD news 07:05  |  Jake 09/11/07
      51.   Maral, you are simply pathetic 07:08  |  Jake 09/11/07
      52.   Grossman plays into money stereotypes about Jews 07:16  |  Jake 09/11/07
      53.   HAHA Judith, Haifa 07:22  |  I.A. 09/11/07
      54.   To Margie and peter 07:32  |  I.A. 09/11/07
      55.   Mr. Grossman you ought to be angry too... 08:48  |  Dutch 09/11/07
      56.   Sh 09:39  |  Walid 09/11/07
      57.   Mr. Grossman, You might want to read this Washington Post column 10:10  |  Dutch 09/11/07
      58.   As a parent I would not have been as polite as Grossman 11:32  |  S 09/11/07
      59.   People like Grossman restore my faith 15:36  |  Lisa 19/11/07
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