Israeli citizens are generally forbidden to visit Lebanon, as the country is on a list of enemy states. But a panel of judges has now decided that this particular trip to see the enemy is not a threat. Hlehel’s case had been taken up by Adalah, “the legal center for Arab minority rights in Israel.”
Hlehel now awaits permission from the Lebanese side.
This comes a week after the Associated Press reported that Hlehel and Palestinian Adania Shibli would not be allowed to travel to Beirut. So I assume Shibli’s status hasn’t changed, and that she will accept her award in London?
If you’re in London on April 15, go see Shibli; perhaps she’ll receive her award. Before that, you can read a few of Hlehel’s stories online, and order a copy of Shibli’s beautiful, sensory new novella, Touch. Shibli is, after all, “the most talked-about author on the West Bank,” according to Ahdaf Souief.
And this is my favorite headline about the ruling: Israel top court allows country’s Arab author to travel to Lebanon to pick up literary award
Yep, he’s the country’s Arab author. Is that an official position?