Poet Gunter Grass Banned from Entering Israel

Arutz Sheva ^ | 8/4/12 | Chana Yaar

[Eleutheria5]

Interior Minister Eli Yishai has banned German poet Gunter Grass from entering Israel.

Yishai declared Grass “persona non grata” in the Jewish State on Sunday, saying his poems were an attempt to “fan the flames of hatred against the state, and against Israel.” If Gunter chooses to spread distortion and falsehood, said Yishai, “I suggest that he do so from Iran, where he can find a [more] receptive audience.”

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also had harsh words for the 84-year-old poet, saying “In order to get publicity and sell a few books, he once more is willing to sacrifice Jews.” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle added his views to the issue in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper Sunday morning as well, noting that the poet's work bespoke a denial of Iran's intentions that was not a simple matter of bigotry, but also dangerous to the world at large.

“Despite international criticism, Iran is advancing its nuclear program,” Westerwelle noted. “There are credible reports that point to a military dimension. In contradiction to international law, Iran refuses to cooperate regarding control of its nuclear program. “Let it be said tto those who don't want to recognize that: This is not a playground for polemics, ideology and prejudices – this is dead serious...

“Nuclear weapons in Iranian hands would be a threat to Israel's security. For our responsible German foreign policy this is reason for special concern, because Germany has a historic responsibility for the people in Israel.” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last week commented, “For six decades Grass has concealed his past as a member of the Waffen SS. It therefore comes as no surprise that he describes the only Jewish State as the biggest threat to world peace, and opposes it equipping itself with the means for self-defense.”

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[Eleutheria5]

McCarthyism/sarc

[Sherman Logan]

He maintained an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities could “wipe out” and “annihilate” its people, adding that Iran's nuclear ambitions were “unproven.”

It could equally be stated that Israel's nuclear arsenal is unproven.

I believe they have never officially agreed to their possession.

[Eleutheria5]

I could see how that would happen. Blowing up an area with weaponized uranium cooking might cause a nuclear explosion.

[Sherman Logan]

Possibly true. But it would take a rather large number of actual nuclear weapons to actually “wipe out” the population of the very large country of Iran. As opposed to the very small country of Israel.

IOW, Gunther is being hyperbolic.

[Puddleglum]

He’s still alive? I figured if I studied him in college (well, read one poem) he must be dead my now.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He’s still alive and still a Nazi.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[Leaning Right]

Israel is showing a shocking lack of tolerance here!

Grass should have been allowed to enter Israel. Then he could be arrested for a hate crime (I’m not a big fan of the “hate crime” concept, but I’d make an exception here).

Perhaps Grass even travels with his SS uniform. He could wear it at his hearing.

[Bigg Red]

Good for Israel. So sick of the Israel bashers and those who put up with them.