This is what happens when you have a minister from the stone age and a mentality in accord with that era.

Sounds like this author is never been outside Israel in his life. Obviously this author is never experienced anti-Semitism in his life. For once we act like an independent country and decide to do something against hey anti-semite and. This miserable author is against it.

Israel did the right thing. When Hitler youth reach the end of the line they resort to their fonder memories of their youth. The real tragedy is that his anti-semitic bile was published in Newspapers. He could at least have worn Brownshirt with a swastika for a reading.

Yet another Ynet article trying to rival haaretz! BE REAL. The time has come for Israel to stand up to the Nazis - yes Grass is a nazi that tried to hide his affiliation until 5 years ago that he VOLUNTEERED for the Waffen SS. The fact that he wasn't declared verbotten IMMEDIATELY and by the PM is itself problematic.

The decision to declare Grass persona non-grata has NOTHING TO DO WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH. It's simply a statement that Herr Grass' presence in Israel would be offensive to Israeli Jews. Herr Grass can continue to speak and write as freely as he pleases. None of his writings or statements has been censored in Israel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Of course, it would help if the government were more consistent. Why doesn't the Israeli government feel offended by the contents of PA-TV, for example? Visit Palestinian Media Watch website for details. IT GETS WORSE. The Israeli government actually rents air frequencies to PA TV - and has never expressed any objection whatsoever to what PA-TV broadcasts about the Jews, and the PA ultimate intentions regarding Israel and the Jews. IT'S HIGH TIME the Israeli government showed as much sensitivity to anti-Semitic and anti-Israel acts and words coming from Arabs - as it does when they come from Europeans. The similarities between the words and intentions expressed in 1930-1940s Germany and in today's Middle East, including the PA, are shocking. What is keeping the Israeli government from reacting with as much outrage when anti-Semitism is expressed and acted on by Arabs?

No it wasn't a mistake! Israel must take the initiative and become much more assertive to counter the delegitimisation campaign being waged against her. This isn't to say that the language of diplomacy doesn't have a role to play but that lines must be drawn. There have been encouraging signs recently of a more asserive tone by the government regarding for example building in Jerusalem. But it isn't enough and more can and should be done. From catherine ashton to the scoundrels in the united nations the international community seems to think it can over ride Israel's sovereign right to decide it's own future. This new assertiviness should be applied across the board and be pursued to it's logical conclusion which is independence from outside interference. What other governments are told where they can and cannot build in their own homeland? It's time to put a stop to this nonsense! It's Israel's future and the people of Israel decide!

Daniel Bettini has hit the nail on the head ,although I detest Guenter Grass and his poem ,israel over-reacted and Yishai screwed uo badly. Ands ,sadly ,there really is no freedom of expression in Israel ,aside from Ynet of course.

It's Grass' timing that is completely off and so is yours. Israel has been putting up with a coordinated campaign of delegitimization by the Global Lefties, left homeless after the collapse of Soviet Union, in an unholly matrimony with antisemitic muslims who have nothing but contempt for these usefull idiots. After decades of grotesque antiisraeli propaganda - former waffen SS turned poet rises and calls israeli nukes a threat to peace. He as well as you know very well that Israel has not ever threatened another country, let alone with its presumed nukes, the existence of which Israel never confirmed. Israel has never even test fired a nuke. All of Israels wars have been defensive wars and the rumor of its nukes is the only deterrent the tiny Israel owns. Calling this a threat to peace is just one slander too many. Israel's reaction is no different than that of any other country, but as usually we are holding Israel to a different standart than everybody else, aren't we. Your article is most unwelcome.

Drop the crap about the "freedom of speech" nonsense. Here is the EU's Law by which any public speech can be criminalized: “Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law.” Denying a visa for an Waffen-SS man is purely symbolic, moral stand. At the same time in the EU those who criticize the Muslims - mind you, using innocuous, general words - is persecuted mercilessly. In Germany: Sarrazin, In Austria E. Sabaditsch, Fr. Brigitte Bardot, It. Oriana Fallaci (RIP). etc.

nazi soldiers to visit Israel. It makes no difference if they are a writer or a pope.

And I do not see much of the world rallying in support of Guenter Grass. Apart from a few blockheads in Sweden, I do believe that most sane and rational people will agree that Israel enjoys a perfect right to declare a former member of the Waffen SS persona non grata in the State of Israel. Certainly Israel more so than any other country on the face of the earth. Whether Grass ever had any intention of visiting Israel is irrelevant. It's good to put him on notice that he never can.

... "fire back to Israel" must not surprise you one iota. This has nothing to do with Yishai and especially because declaring someone "persona non grata" is pretty standard practice and not so rare occurrence.

Grass served in Waffen-SS and according to German minister Mr. Bahr , Grass "remains marked by so much prejudice and stubbornness." Israeli low forbids to such persons to enter Israel. So Interior Minister Eli Yishai’s decision to declare Grass "Persona not Grata" was legitimate. On my opinion Israel should suggest investigating, if Grass did not participate personally in war crimes of Waffen-SS in 1945. The fact that Grass was young is irrelevant: John (Ivan) Demjanjuk was not much elder. Grass concealed up to 2006 his service in the Waffen SS. And: who knows, what Grass is concealing up to now?

let him discuss with students at an university about Israel, Iran and his Nazi past. All live on Israeli and German TV. If Grass follows the invitation you can tear him (his arguments) apart, if he doesn't you win even without a fight. That would do the trick.

This 'persona non grata thing was a SYMBOL, a symbolic gesture that sais "WE Israel, the land of the Jews will not accept this crap from a discusting German nazi anymore". Everybody understands that Grassroot didn't have any intentions to come to Israel, not now, not ever. Those who stand by Grassroot and 'understand his motives are from the 'same cut as he is....Jewhaters pure sang. Racists who think they still live in 1930 and can blame the Jews (I mean the governement of Israel) for the sun not shining at night. Those days are over BECAUSE there is an Israeli Jewish Interior minister speaking out! This article is a typical example of cowardness. So Israel didn't 'score PR points, big deal. It's not about scoring points, but putting a discusting Nazi and those who defend him in their place from a free & vibrant Jewish country, by a Jewish Prime Minister and his Interior Minister! Pulling the attention away from Grassroot, back to Israel was the right message! Telling the racists of the world "We are here and we'll attaque everyone who attaques us.....verbally & military!

This was truly a stupid article that should not have been published. No one who hates Israel caresabout Israel's action in banning the nazi Grass from Israel. People who are fair-minded have to be appalled at the poem by an obviously unreformed nazi SS stormtrooper and understand that Israel has the right to ban such a hater. the only controversy comes from those who already are looking for things to demean Israel and for those people, it doesn't really matter if the monster were allowed to visit Israel.

Unless they arrive in handcuffs.

He definitely deserves it.

it was probably an unnecessary "feel-good" gesture but it probably did no harm. the Israeli declaration would not have come as a surprise to any sympathetic observer and it certainly does NOT implicate any free speech issues: the despicable, senile, fool is free to say whatever hateful he wants; he is just not welcome to say them in Israel.

Ignore the Drek

I agree with respondent 16. Grass should be invited to confront students who can challenge his strange logic. Sometimes (maybe even more often that that), the Israeli government acts more like a shtetl. While it is true that countries like Great Britain ban individuals for their politics or hate speech, Israel would have been better served had it let Grass simmer in the criticism in his own country. In any other nation, Minister Yishai would be sacked for incompetence.

anti-Goyism?

reaction to the poem, its not something to disregard. israel should have advice before making hasty decision.

Grass didn't mix up the facts. He distorted them! Grass was a soldier in the Waffen-SS. Normally you weren't called to this unit. Grass must have been found okay for this unit. Writing his auto-biography "Peeling the Onion", he suddenly remembered that he served in the Waffen-SS for a short time, when he was 17 years old. Being asked, why he kept it for himself for 60 years he sensed this kind of questions as an impertinence and reacted like an aged nun, who worked in a brothel in earlier times. (Henryk M. Broder) For me Grass is an embarrassment on two legs. Making it clear, that he is viewed as persona non grata is okay so far, as he wouldn't have come to Israel anyway. So where is the problem??? The much bigger problem is, that in Germany Grass is widely seen as a hero! He said what had to be said. He deliberately sensed the red line and placed his indigestible lies exactly at this line. No, Grass is not moronic, nor is he demented. Grass knew exactly what he did! Grass never distanced himself from his Nazi-past and in the recent years he added one strange statement after the other. What I find really embarrassing is, that German media are able to find Jewish "names" who publicly declare that Grass' text (no, it wasn't a poem, it was the text was much to crappy) is just okay and he was right! The German government leans back and carefully observes what is going on in public. They shy back from taking a position. They will not confront the public with their own anti-semitic rants. The German government will wait until the shitstorm is over. I always thought, it couldn't come worse and then it came worse! I cannot understand, why Jews are moving to this country today. Europe today is more anti-semitic than ever during the past 67 years.

would go to apartheid israel no academic is going so do not worry the world is ignoring you idf child killers

who has found his new allies on the left, to take up his libel

When I read your talkbacks for this article I can hardly believe it. Almost all sound so radical and hysterical, like how can I make my response more hysterical then the previous one. You sound like little children and as crazy as all the other radicals in the Middle East. I can't believe the state of Israel is considered a democratic country.