French author Simone de Beauvoir is the winner of this year’s Jerusalem Prize “for the freedom of man in society,” Mayor Teddy Kollek announced today at a press conference. The author, who has rejected awards since she won the “Prix Goncourt” in 1964 for her book. “The Mandarins,” has accepted the prize, which will be given to her at the opening ceremony of the Seventh Jerusalem International Book Fair in April.
Kollek said de Beauvoir’s consent to accept the prize, indicates an identification with Israel, “even from those circles who are often critical of Israel.” The award committee, Supreme Court Judge Haim Cohen, and Professors Alice Shalvi and Dan Fegis, said the French author proved in her clear writing and thinking that she is one of the most important authors of our era.
Some 750 publishers, most of them foreign, are expected at this year’s book fair. However, it will be the first time that there will be no UNESCO stand. UNESCO was not invited due to the organization’s hostile policy toward Israel.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
