Under US sponsorship: Yahya Sinwar's books sold to anyone who wanted them
The 11th International Arab Book Fair opened last Saturday in Istanbul. The US Ambassador to Doha sponsored the event, even though it included the dissemination of Holocaust denial messages, as well as those of Yahya Sinwar.
The 11th International Arab Book Fair, which opened on Saturday in Istanbul, has become a stage for the activities of the Islamist axis and for Qatari-Turkish cooperation regarding the Palestinian issue. During the event, the Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), a body of the Muslim Brotherhood movement operating from Qatar, called for providing aid to the Gaza Strip by all possible means.
The fair, which will continue until August 23, is being held this year under the theme "The Story Continues," with more than 300 publishing houses from over 30 countries participating. One of the most active countries at the event is Qatar, whose Ministry of Culture set up a booth featuring many titles.
Dr. Yasin Aktay, a former advisor to the President of Turkey, presented the goal of strengthening the Islamist axis at the event:
"The theme of this event spans the story of a united nation, in the hope that the fair will help strengthen ties between people in the Islamic world on various platforms."
The Islamist axis is known for using such events to disseminate messages denying the existence of Israel and to encourage Palestinian terrorism. At the International Book Fair held in Doha last May, the books of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar were sold and giant posters were displayed. Furthermore, books praising the conduct of terrorists in Israeli prisons were sold at the fair, as well as books denying the Holocaust. All of this did not prevent the United States Embassy in Doha from sponsoring the event.
At the event in Istanbul, Qatari-Turkish cooperation was also demonstrated in the context of Hamas. The Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Ali al-Qaradaghi, called during the fair to keep the issue of the Palestinian people at the forefront and to provide aid to the Gaza Strip by all possible means.
The Union operates from Qatar and belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood movement. Hamas also belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, and the call for economic support from the organization is intended to assist Hamas.
Dr. Ariel Admoni from Ariel University and the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security says that this cooperation illustrates the use by Qatar and Turkey of soft cultural tools to continue economic and moral support for Palestinian terrorism through means that do not harm the international legitimacy enjoyed by Qatar and Turkey.
