Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir urged hundreds of international book publishers gathered here Sunday night to “see for yourselves that life in this city is basically normal — contrary to what the television and newspapers report.”
Shamir was addressing the opening session of the 14th Jerusalem International Book Fair at the Binyenei Ha’uma convention center.
The prime minister said that the fact that the fair is being held here at this time proves that Jerusalem can “rise above” transient problems and broadcast its historic message of “justice and peace.”
Some 1,000 publishers from 42 nations are exhibiting an estimated 100,000 titles at this year’s fair, one of the largest ever. The exhibits are spread over 7,000 square yards of space.
One of the key attractions is the participation of the Chinese writers association.
Phoenix Peng Zi, a member of the board of directors of the Chinese association, and her husband, Sha Bulli — formerly Sidney Shapiro, of American Jewish descent — said they had been sent by the Chinese authorities on a fact-finding mission for the publishers in China.
Delegations from the Soviet Union, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Nepal are also participating.
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