Two Arabs of Israel have been chosen to receive awards at the Beirut39 Festival in Lebanon this week, but the official state of war between the two countries might make preclude their showing up to receive them.
Israel, for its part, has decided to allow at least one of them to leave for Lebanon, but it is not clear whether Lebanon will let him in.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai originally turned down the request of Ala Hlehel, an author of short stories and a play, to enter Lebanon, based on a security recommendation against it. The Israel Security Agency's position was that Israeli citizens must not be permitted to enter enemy countries, as the law states, except for exceptions of a security nature. "This is not a humanitarian case," Yishai said. "Lebanon can send him the prize by mail."
The Supreme Court, however, disagreed, upholding Hlehel's appeal and allowing him to depart for Lebanon.
Another Arab author from Israel, Adania Shibli, is also scheduled to receive an award at the Beirut festival. She did not make a request to go to Lebanon, saying she would accept her prize in London instead. However, in light of the Hlehel ruling, she may reconsider.
In any event, it is not clear if Lebanon will make an exception to its own rules and allow the Israeli passport holders to enter its borders.
Tensions on the Israeli-Lebanon border have escalated in recent days, with increased Lebanese forces on the border and the detection of a transfer of Scud rockets from Syria to Lebanon. Israel considered attacking the rocket-laden convoy, but in the end, turned to the United States for redress instead.