PA Ministries publish Antisemitic book that describes Israel as "the descendants of Shylock”
“The novella Autumn of Waiting, written by prisoner Hassan Fatafteh aroused discussion in the hall of the Rocky Hotel in Ramallah, where the Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs, in cooperation with the Writers’ Association and the Al-Damir Institute – celebrated its publication, in the presence of the Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs, Issa Karake, intellectuals and those interested in literature, and in particular prison literature.
Dr. Abd Al-Rahim Al-Sheikh [article doesn’t specify his title; apparently he is a literary critic] spoke about the novella… this novella was written from within prison, from within the [very] innards of the monster. This novella reminds us of the illusions which have turned into facts and the facts which have turned into illusions in our cultural battle with the Zionist enemy: What Palestine is, who the Palestinians are, and what the just culture is… Another concept [in the book] is myself and the other. The writer refers to it with a single word – the ‘other’. In the novella he does not define it [Jews/Israel] as the occupation, or as Zionists; they are the descendants of Shylock, the blood merchant from the Shakespeare’s play, ‘The Merchant of Venice’. The name ‘Jews’ appears only once or twice, and they are also described as foreigners. This is the most important element in the Israeli identity today – foreignness.’ …He views the occupation [Israel] as a blood merchant, as the opportunistic descendants of Shylock, as a foreigner. This is the reality perceived by the book.’”
According to the following article, the novella Autumn of Waiting was published by the PA Ministry of Culture and the PA Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs:
Headline: “Ramallah: Publication of literary series, ‘Prison Literature’”
“The Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs, launched a literary series yesterday under the title, ‘Prison Literature’, written by some of the prisoners in the occupation’s prisons. A ceremony was held to mark [the launch of the series] in Ramallah.
The series comprises five books written by prisoners, including the novella The Prison’s Prison by prisoner Ismat Mansour; the poem ‘Rafiq Al-Salami Waters the Orange Grove’ by prisoner Mahmoud Al-Gharbawi; the novella Autumn of Waiting by prisoner Hassan Fatafteh….”
Dr. Abd Al-Rahim Al-Sheikh [article doesn’t specify his title; apparently he is a literary critic] spoke about the novella… this novella was written from within prison, from within the [very] innards of the monster. This novella reminds us of the illusions which have turned into facts and the facts which have turned into illusions in our cultural battle with the Zionist enemy: What Palestine is, who the Palestinians are, and what the just culture is… Another concept [in the book] is myself and the other. The writer refers to it with a single word – the ‘other’. In the novella he does not define it [Jews/Israel] as the occupation, or as Zionists; they are the descendants of Shylock, the blood merchant from the Shakespeare’s play, ‘The Merchant of Venice’. The name ‘Jews’ appears only once or twice, and they are also described as foreigners. This is the most important element in the Israeli identity today – foreignness.’ …He views the occupation [Israel] as a blood merchant, as the opportunistic descendants of Shylock, as a foreigner. This is the reality perceived by the book.’”
According to the following article, the novella Autumn of Waiting was published by the PA Ministry of Culture and the PA Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs:
Headline: “Ramallah: Publication of literary series, ‘Prison Literature’”
“The Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs, launched a literary series yesterday under the title, ‘Prison Literature’, written by some of the prisoners in the occupation’s prisons. A ceremony was held to mark [the launch of the series] in Ramallah.
The series comprises five books written by prisoners, including the novella The Prison’s Prison by prisoner Ismat Mansour; the poem ‘Rafiq Al-Salami Waters the Orange Grove’ by prisoner Mahmoud Al-Gharbawi; the novella Autumn of Waiting by prisoner Hassan Fatafteh….”
[Al-Ayyam, June 15, 2011]