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Italian President Giorgio Napolitano (AP) Last update - 11:12 06/05/2008 Italian president defends Turin book fair honoring Israeli writers By The Associated Press Tags: Giorgio Napolitano, Italy  Italy's president on Monday defended his decision to open a book fair in Turin honoring Israeli writers, despite calls for a boycott by some Arab and Italian intellectuals angered by the event. President Giorgio Napolitano's planned appearance at Thursday's inauguration of the fair is in line with his participation in many cultural events, his office said in a statement. Controversy has been brewing for months over the event, mirroring similar p Advertisement rotests against the Paris Book Fair in March, which also showcased works by Israelis. Italy's presidency was reacting mainly to the Italian media quoting Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan as saying Monday that Napolitano's plan to open the Turin fair is a mistake. "His presence shows that this is a political event, and not only a cultural event," the ANSA news agency quoted Ramadan as saying at a news conference in Turin. Ramadan also accused Napolitano of labeling as anti-Semites all those who criticize Israel, ANSA reported. The presidency's statement rejected as false Ramadan's assertion. "Criticizing Israel's policies is completely legitimate, it said. What is unacceptable is any position that denies the legitimacy of the state of Israel... and its right to exist in peace and security." Ramadan, a Swiss academic, was in Turin to participate in a series of protests against the fair. Opponents plan to demonstrate on Saturday in the streets of the northern Italian city, contending that the fair is a political event that celebrates Israel's 60th anniversary. Organizers have said the fair invites a different country each year and the move was merely intended to honor the nation's writers, many of whom have been critical of their government's policies. The organizers also said that invitations to noted critics of Israel, including Ramadan, had been turned down. The fair runs through May 12, featuring book presentations and debates with top Israeli writers, including A.B. Yehoshua and Aharon Appelfeld Bookmark to del.icio.us   Shimon goes green Peres says to fight terror Israel should reduce its dependence on oil. Voices of heroism IDF releases audio recordings from famed 1976 Entebbe raid.   1.   Handwriting on the Wall 01:04  |  Albert 06/05/08   2.   Aha! Napolitano gets it. 01:27  |  Phillipe T. Lucre 06/05/08   3.   Arab boycott 01:28  |  real vision 06/05/08   4.   TARIQ RAMADAN AND BOYCOTTS 01:30  |  Brant 06/05/08   5.   TIME ARAB intellectuals tried a bit of intellectual honesty 01:44  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   6.   Mr.Ramadan who? 01:55  |  Massimo 06/05/08   7.   Viva Italia - true intellectuals welcome book fairs 03:00  |  mike 06/05/08   8.   Time to boycot peaceniks 03:10  |  Gene 06/05/08   9.   FREEDOM OF ideas as long as it is Arab ideas 04:20  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   10.   Viva Italy and Happy Brithday to Israel 04:27  |  GZLives 06/05/08   11.   que viva italia and israel 05:17  |  ramadan ben hallouf 06/05/08   12.   Congratulations are in order 05:21  |  Lynn 06/05/08   13.   lets have book fair for any arab/islamic country. whoops no books 06:27  |  ralph 06/05/08   14.   boycott arms sales, academic & cultural conferences promote peace 06:55  |  anti-racist 06/05/08   15.   Arab + Italian intellectuals? 07:34  |  geoff 06/05/08   16.   #9 Peter SM - a BOYCOTT on ARABS will be "RACIST", of course 07:45  |  CK Tan 06/05/08   17.   books and tyranny 10:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/05/08   18.   #9 PeterSM. A Muslim Journalist - Sami Al-Haj. 10:31  |  Maureen Ann 06/05/08   19.   #9 Peter SM - a BOYCOTT on ARABS will be "RACIST", of course (3x) 11:12  |  CK Tan 06/05/08   20.   These are the Italians that will be speaking Arabic in 30 years 11:13  |  Seeking peace 06/05/08   21.   Jewish physics 11:30  |  Altalena 06/05/08   22.   form Torino...ehm 11:31  |  upgrade 4 all 06/05/08   23.   Cipora and the burning of ideas 11:37  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 06/05/08   24.   Incredible! 12:27  |  JR 06/05/08

Read & React Moshe Arens: Is Olmert pushing for peace at any price? Responses: 19 Daphna Golan: When will we listen to the Palestinians' suffering? Responses: 39 Soldier killed in Lebanon War 'finally promoted to rank of Jew' Responses: 16 Erekat: No progress in Monday's talks, key issues still contested Responses: 53 Rosner's Domain The Democrats are fighting over Iran How people die in Gaza? (WTR) Poll: If Olmert is gone, who should be PM? Carter is helping Hamas achieve their strategic goal Helping McCain win over Jewish voters (WTR) More Headlines 12:23 Court: Foreign national's testimony needed in new Olmert probe 13:20 Police: Lifting gag order on PM probe would hurt public interest 12:30 Erekat: No progress in Monday's talks, key issues still contested 13:24 Polish police: Kuwaiti envoy's son held 3 Jewish teens captive 11:30 IAF airstrike kills Hamas gunman in northern Gaza mortar squad 09:38 Panel: Ultra-Orthodox settlement should be city, despite illegal construction 10:12 Soldier killed in Lebanon War 'finally promoted to rank of Jew' 13:21 Serial arsonist who hit 3 synagogues may have struck again 08:06 IDF releases audio recordings from famed 1976 Entebbe rescue 05:34 Boy's death in Lod fire may have been part of domestic dispute 11:32 1948 Diaries: Former Jordanian POW recalls Gush Etzion defeat 11:23 Egyptian police kill Nigerian trying to cross into Israel Previous Editions Select Day 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr

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