Poisonous Ink
By Sara Ibrahim
A Public Debate on "Translating the "Israeli" literature" was held in Ta Marbouta a coffee shop in Hamra, Beirut. The debate was set between Helmi Moussa an expert on Palestinian affairs in the Lebanese daily As-Safir and Pierre Abi Saab, culture editor of the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar.
The smell of rage was filling the area, it was a spicy subject that attracted a huge number of people from different sects and beliefs. More than 100 activists, students, professors, and journalists were there to participate in the debate. They were all warmed up and ready to launch their thoughts.
Helmi Moussa started by pointing out that this shouldn't be a debate because a debate involves opposition and argument. "We all know "Israel" is our enemy, and to fight it we must penetrate it's strategies by reading its culture", he said.
Helmi was able to pull the trigger with that sentence! Pierre Abi Saab gripped on the microphone with enthusiasm and said: "Will Amos Oz's work make a difference in the Palestinian- "Israeli" struggle?", he said. Pointing out that if we were to translate a Hebrew writing for any urgent reason, we must introduce the writer and his history, people should know that this writer is a Zionist with a massive history of crimes. "Let's not breakdown opened doors, this shouldn't be subject to negotiations", he added.
Shouts of arguments hit every corner in the room. One of the audience stood up and said, " You want to know to know who "Israel" is? Aren't the million cluster bombs in the South of Lebanon enough to show you what "Israel" is?"
Followed by a round of applause Rania Masry a Lebanese political analyst stood up to remind people the following,"Did you all forget that the translation of the Zionist's works and the publication of their books would mean a financial contribution to their entity. Those writers get a commission on their books, doesn't that mean something to you?".
Helmi was feeling offended and trying to make things clear he said, "Throughout the years of my profession I've learned to say NO all the time, reading the Hebrew books built a sense of denial in me, I learned how to fight them while translating. I would never jeopardize the resistance and my beloved country."
A 26 year old student replied, "Aren't you giving honor to those filthy Zionist by translating their books? Your putting the Palestinians in an inhuman position of where they have to read the books of the hands that are killing them."
Pierre Abi Saab noted that the translation of the "Israeli" literature is a Zionist project aimed at spreading the "Israeli" culture to penetrate the minds of the youth and introduce them to their entity in an indirect way. "The institute of translating Hebrew literature declared that it would provide financial support for any publishing house that translates and publishes its work. It was founded for this purpose in 1962, and it's flowing beneath our feet without notice."
A university professor focused on the dangerous aspects of translating Hebrew books, she said,"This is a cultural invasion and it is one of the most outstanding and dangerous breaches encountering the Arabic Culture, they are trying to place the Zionist racist entity in the heart of Arab countries and undermine the idea of Arab nationality and unity."
A young girl screamed out, " I don't want to be called ignorant, I want to be enriched with different kinds of cultures, I have the right to have an insight on all kinds of books and arts."
Another man replied with a smirk, "Did you do all your home works? How many books do you read per year Do you know all our Arab authors? Let's not lie to ourselves their are thousands of beautiful humane minds out their that we should give privilege to. Let's stop this nonsense. We should boycott "Israel" with all means. Wake up People".
After 3 hours of a fury discussion, people were tired of stressing on something that is clear as the sun, there is no legal and legitimate state called "Israel". Wether we translate their "literature" or not, "Israel" will remain a foreign body in this large area, for it has always proved that it is unable to coexist with this environment, and the scope of the massacres that it has committed is a great witness.
A Public Debate on "Translating the "Israeli" literature" was held in Ta Marbouta a coffee shop in Hamra, Beirut. The debate was set between Helmi Moussa an expert on Palestinian affairs in the Lebanese daily As-Safir and Pierre Abi Saab, culture editor of the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar.
The smell of rage was filling the area, it was a spicy subject that attracted a huge number of people from different sects and beliefs. More than 100 activists, students, professors, and journalists were there to participate in the debate. They were all warmed up and ready to launch their thoughts.
Helmi Moussa started by pointing out that this shouldn't be a debate because a debate involves opposition and argument. "We all know "Israel" is our enemy, and to fight it we must penetrate it's strategies by reading its culture", he said.
Helmi was able to pull the trigger with that sentence! Pierre Abi Saab gripped on the microphone with enthusiasm and said: "Will Amos Oz's work make a difference in the Palestinian- "Israeli" struggle?", he said. Pointing out that if we were to translate a Hebrew writing for any urgent reason, we must introduce the writer and his history, people should know that this writer is a Zionist with a massive history of crimes. "Let's not breakdown opened doors, this shouldn't be subject to negotiations", he added.
Shouts of arguments hit every corner in the room. One of the audience stood up and said, " You want to know to know who "Israel" is? Aren't the million cluster bombs in the South of Lebanon enough to show you what "Israel" is?"
Followed by a round of applause Rania Masry a Lebanese political analyst stood up to remind people the following,"Did you all forget that the translation of the Zionist's works and the publication of their books would mean a financial contribution to their entity. Those writers get a commission on their books, doesn't that mean something to you?".
Helmi was feeling offended and trying to make things clear he said, "Throughout the years of my profession I've learned to say NO all the time, reading the Hebrew books built a sense of denial in me, I learned how to fight them while translating. I would never jeopardize the resistance and my beloved country."
A 26 year old student replied, "Aren't you giving honor to those filthy Zionist by translating their books? Your putting the Palestinians in an inhuman position of where they have to read the books of the hands that are killing them."
Pierre Abi Saab noted that the translation of the "Israeli" literature is a Zionist project aimed at spreading the "Israeli" culture to penetrate the minds of the youth and introduce them to their entity in an indirect way. "The institute of translating Hebrew literature declared that it would provide financial support for any publishing house that translates and publishes its work. It was founded for this purpose in 1962, and it's flowing beneath our feet without notice."
A university professor focused on the dangerous aspects of translating Hebrew books, she said,"This is a cultural invasion and it is one of the most outstanding and dangerous breaches encountering the Arabic Culture, they are trying to place the Zionist racist entity in the heart of Arab countries and undermine the idea of Arab nationality and unity."
A young girl screamed out, " I don't want to be called ignorant, I want to be enriched with different kinds of cultures, I have the right to have an insight on all kinds of books and arts."
Another man replied with a smirk, "Did you do all your home works? How many books do you read per year Do you know all our Arab authors? Let's not lie to ourselves their are thousands of beautiful humane minds out their that we should give privilege to. Let's stop this nonsense. We should boycott "Israel" with all means. Wake up People".
After 3 hours of a fury discussion, people were tired of stressing on something that is clear as the sun, there is no legal and legitimate state called "Israel". Wether we translate their "literature" or not, "Israel" will remain a foreign body in this large area, for it has always proved that it is unable to coexist with this environment, and the scope of the massacres that it has committed is a great witness.
