Writer David Grossman refused to shake Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's hand in a prize ceremony in Jerusalem Wednesday. Grossman received the Emet prize for achievements in arts, science and culture, from the AMEN Fund, which is sponsored by the Prime Minister's Office. 11 prize winners will share $1 million between them.
Olmert sat at center stage behind a table and the prize winners were expected to shake his hand. However, Grossman only shook hands with Prize Commission Chairman, Judge Gavriel Bach, and one other panel member, and then took a step back and stood in place, as Olmert glowered at him.
Grossman lost his son, Uri, in the final days of the Second Lebanon War, and has been highly critical of the Olmert government, especialy as regards its handling of that war.