Bereaved Israeli author snubs Olmert at ceremony

After loosing his son in the Second Lebanon War, internationally acclaimed novelist David Grossman decried nation's 'hollow leadership.' Last night he refused to shake the prime minister's hand at a ceremony honoring achievements in art
Itamar Eichner

David Grossman, an Israeli author and peace activist who lost a son in the Second Lebanon War, refused to shake Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's hand at a televised prize-giving ceremony on Wednesday.

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Olmert saw his popularity plummet after the costly conflict against Lebanese Hezbollah and has been trying to cobble together public consensus on rapprochement with the Palestinians while excluding their dominant Islamist faction Hamas.

The prime minister officiated at a Jerusalem ceremony honoring contributions to Israeli culture. While other prize recipients shook Olmert's hand, Grossman bypassed his part of the stage, a move which also had him forgo shaking the hand of Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish, who was sitting beside the prime minister. Grossman refused to even look in Olmert's direction, though the latter certainly looked at him, a grim expression on his face.

Grossman said he had notified event organizers in advance of his intentions and had spoken with Beinish beforehand to explain his actions.

"I did what I saw to be right, the interpreting of that move I leave to you. It speaks for itself," said Grossman after the ceremony.

Grossman 's internationally acclaimed novels include 'The Smile of the Lamb' and 'See Under: LOVE.' His son, Uri, an Israeli tank crewman, died in an offensive against Hizbullah hours before a UN-brokered

ceasefire ended the Lebanon war.

Grossman and fellow author Amos Oz have called on Olmert to hold talks with Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in June. Olmert, with Western backing, vows to shun Hamas until it recognizes Israel and forswears violence.

Reuters contributed to this report