(Communicated by the Israel Foreign Ministry)
President Shimon Peres, four award winners in the fields of science and literature, the honorary booth at the second most influential book fair in the world, 39 Israeli authors, and widespread media coverage are only some of the attractions of the "Israel-France Week" in Paris.
President Peres will arrive in Paris today (Monday, 10 March 2008) on a four-day state visit to France, as guest of President Nicolas Sarkozy. State visits are rare in France, occurring at most once or twice a year, and President Peres' visit is the first since President Sarkozy's election to office. During the visit, President Peres will meet senior French officials, industrial leaders, and leaders of the Jewish community. President Peres will also meet with French intellectuals and members of society. The visit is expected to give both a tangible and symbolic expression to the marked improvement in relations between the two countries.
The Champs Élysées and various public buildings have been adorned with French and Israeli flags, and the warm reception of President Peres is a mark of the friendship between the two countries, and the deep respect for President Peres himself.
The Paris Book Fair
President Peres will inaugurate the Paris Book Fair on Thursday, 13 March. Over 1200 publishers will participate, and over 200,000 visitors are expected to attend. Israel is to be the guest of honor at the fair, a reward for the many years of tireless work and preparation with the Book Fair organizers and leading publishers of the Israeli embassy in Paris.
The Israeli stand, which can be seen from all viewpoints in the fairgrounds, thousands of posters around town announcing Israel's special position, and a flood of special French media supplements which can be seen at every magazine kiosk in the city - all these represent a special salutation to Israeli literature.
The 600 sqm Israeli booth, designed by architect Aliza Arens and designer David Tartakover, incorporates a bookstore which will sell hundreds of Israeli books and albums as well as a public space for general activities.
The French National Book Center invited 39 Israeli authors to attend the book fair. They will arrive for the opening ceremony, and will participate in dozens of events - round tables, lectures, interviews, discussions and readings - sometimes, two or three simultaneously. These will take place both inside and outside the fairgrounds, and are likely to attract most of the media attention.
The France-Israel Foundation has decided to award this year's prize for literature to Israeli writer Eshkol Nevo, and the prize for excellence in science to two Israeli researchers, Dr. Shulamit Levenberg and Dr. Hossam Haick of the Technion.
Professor Ada Yonath of the Structural Biology Department at the Weizmann Institute of Science was awarded the prestigious L'OREAL-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, on March 6 at UNESCO Paris headquarters. Professor Yonath is the first Israeli recipient of this prize.