Murakami slams Israel for treatment of Palestinians

[Scurrilous]

Distinguished Japanese author, who visited Israel last month to receive important literary prize, publishes critical article against Israel's policy in occupied territories

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3685218,00.html

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"About a month ago, renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami arrived in Israel to receive the prestigious Jerusalem Prize at the International Book Fair in the capital. In a speech he gave during the event Murakami subtly criticized Israel for its policy in the occupied territories.

However, in an article recently published by the author in the Shunjuu Bungei literary journal, Murakami takes off the gloves and strongly condemns Israel's "unjust" treatment of the Palestinians.

"Israel has adopted a policy that seals off the Palestinians inside the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, a policy that denies the refugees' right to return to their land in order to protect the interests of the Jewish people; this is unjust," Murakami writes.

He explains that he decided to accept the Israeli prize believing this would allow him to speak freely in front of an Israeli audience.

While Murakami notes that "Israel isn't a tyrannical state and is founded on free speech," the encounters with Israelis he describes reflect a racist, militant and aggressive society."