Listowel Writers’ Week decides against Israeli funding

Listowel Writers’ Week will not be applying for Israeli embassy funding towards the attendance of an Israeli writer at the festival.

Concerns had been raised on social media, and by an organisation of Irish artists supporting Palestine, about the acceptance of Israeli state funds towards the expenses of author Savyon Liebrecht.

Festival spokeswoman Maire Logue said Ms Liebrecht was invited in January and the Israeli embassy offered to contribute, as embassies sometimes did.

However, a number of other writers attending next week’s Co Kerry festival expressed concern in recent days about an Israeli embassy grant.

Flights and accommodation

Ms Logue said the festival had already paid for flights and accommodation.

She said the grant from the embassy had yet to be applied for and would only have covered some expenses.

Rather than upset any other artists, the festival was not going ahead with the application, she said.

PalFest Ireland (Irish artists supporting Palestine) welcomed the decision and that Ms Liebrecht's event was still running.

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign said it was a “courageous and principled decision”.