Free Republic

Gunter Grass has criticized Israel's decision to ban him from entering the country, comparing it to actions taken by the former communist East Germany and Myanmar. "I have been prohibited entry to acountry three times," Gunter wrote, referring to similar cases that have occurred with the ex-German Democratic Republic (GDR) and a 1986 attempt to travel to Myanmar, a pre-released copy of Thursday's Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. In his statement entitled "Then as today- my response to latest decisions," which was published in the same newspaper that debuted his controversial poem, Gunter writes, "In both cases the usual practice in dictatorships...

Interior Minister Eli Yishai has banned German poet Gunter Grass from entering Israel. Yishai declared Grass “persona non grata” in the Jewish State on Sunday, saying his poems were an attempt to “fan the flames of hatred against the state, and against Israel.” If Gunter chooses to spread distortion and falsehood, said Yishai, “I suggest that he do so from Iran, where he can find a [more] receptive audience.” Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also had harsh words for the 84-year-old poet, saying “In order to get publicity and sell a few books, he once more is willing to sacrifice Jews.”...