Playahata

CAIRO – One of the Israeli military’s most visible spokesmen is under fire for a photo he posted on his Facebook page captioned “Obama style” in which his face is smeared with mud. Sacha Dratwa posted the photo in late September, but since the furor he has restricted access to his account. A screengrab of the original post circulating online showed that it drew mixed reactions, with one commenter saying, “You know this is racist, yeah?” (more…)

Award-winning author Alice Walker has refused to allow a Hebrew translation of her acclaimed novel The Color Purple, saying ‘Israel is guilt of apartheid and persecution of the Palestinian people.’ Publisher Yediot Books had requested a new edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel which deals with the legacy of racism in the American Deep South but the 68-year-old said she could not permit it ‘at this time’.

In a letter penned on June 9, which was posted by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, Walker said: ‘Israel is guilty of apartheid and persecution of the Palestinian people, both inside Israel and also in the Occupied Territories.’ (more…)