Muslim Anti-Semitic Boycott

The purpose of a book fair to be held in Paris is to "honour literature and promote dialogue between cultures."

Good luck with that.

This year's fair plans to honor 39 writers from Israel.

A number of Muslim countries are boycotting the fair because Israel is the guest of honor. To date, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have canceled their participation.

Isesco (the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) is urging all of its 50 members to withdraw from the fair, claiming that Israel has committed crimes against humanity in Palestinian areas and therefore Israel is unworthy to be the guest of honor.

In addition, a number of national publishing houses in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, have cancelled stands at the fair.

Tariq Ali, a British-Pakistani writer, is boycotting the event because it honors Israel, and a Swiss Muslim scholar, Tariq Ramadan is supporting the boycott because he feels Israel shows no respect for the Palestinian people.

Isn't this a fascinating spectacle? Here we have Muslim countries defending those who hate Israel; those who continually wreak violence and havoc upon Israel; those who devote their miserable lives to killing Jews and destroying Israel because they believe the state of Israel has no right to exist.

For sixty years, Israel has had to defend itself against unprovoked attacks by Islamic fanatics committed to driving Israel into the sea. For sixty years, Israel has had to protect itself from these same Islamic fascists who believe the only good Jew is a dead Jew and devote their lives to killing as many Jews as possible.

During the same sixty years, the Muslim countries that surround Israel have stagnated or become poorer for their only concern was the death of Israel. They have put neither money nor energy into improving conditions for their people. Instead, they opted to invest their wealth and their energy in weapons of war to cause death and destruction.

Today, Israel is a beautiful example of a modern, Democratic society. Israel's achievements in every area of life are exemplary. Israel is a showcase of what human beings are capable of when allowed the freedom and provided the resources to fulfill their dreams. The products that flow from Israeli labs and from Israeli companies benefit all the world every day. In addition, Israel allows Arabs to live within its borders, to work within its borders and provides Arabs with all the benefits the country has to offer.

Flip that coin. There is no Islamic country in the Middle East that allows Jews. Jews may not live in those countries and they may not own businesses in those countries. Any Jew traveling through one of those countries is in danger of being killed - just for being a Jew.

Today, Hamas is shooting rockets from Gaza into a defenseless Israeli town as this is being written. If and when Israel responds militarily to these rocket attacks, Hamas hides among the civilian population which is, not only a violation of the Geneva Convention, but ensures that innocents will be killed. Almost without fail it is Israel that is excoriated as being "inhumane," or worse.

So, I say to the organizers of the Paris book fair: Let all the Islamic fanatics and fascists go. Let them hide in the poverty and wretchedness and backwardness of their forlorn countries and watch the world go by. What have any of them brought to the table other than violence, racism, superstition, and more violence?

The goals of the Paris book fair, "to honor literature and promote dialog between cultures," are absolutely foreign to countries ruled by the Islamists; they do not understand what these mean.

Consider Saudi Arabia - an oil-producing ally of the U.S. - a country ruled by an iron fist. Saudi leaders allow no freedom of religion or freedom of speech. They treat women as second-class citizens. Violaters of religious laws are beaten and/or jailed. How foolish it is to think they can help "promote dialog between cultures." That encompasses a concept alien to their medieval mind-set.

We must hope those in charge of the Paris book fair stand firm. These Muslim countries that overtly practice anti-Semitism and seek Israel's destruction must never, ever, under any circumstances, be allowed to dictate the parameters of this fair, or any other event held in a Democratic, free society.