Italian literary festival confirms Israeli author Eskhol Nevo after activists demand his exclusion over Gaza silence

The petition

A group of activists, intellectuals, and local officials launched a petition demanding the removal of Israeli writer Eskhol Nevo from the programme of 'Il Libro Possibile', a literary festival scheduled for July in the towns of Polignano a Mare and Vieste, in southern Italy's Puglia region. Among the signatories was Monsignor Franco Moscone, the Archbishop of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo. The petitioners argued that Nevo, best known for his novel Tre piani, had not taken a clear public stance against the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the destruction in Gaza.

Festival response

The festival's organisers firmly rejected the petition. In a statement conveyed through Italian media, they confirmed Nevo's participation would go ahead as planned, framing the decision as a defence of cultural dialogue against political litmus tests. The organisers did not issue further details on any security or format adjustments.

Culture as battleground

The clash fits a broader pattern in which cultural events have become proxy arenas for geopolitical disputes. Boycott campaigns targeting Israeli artists and institutions have surfaced periodically across Europe, often drawing sharp counter-reactions from free-speech advocates. The Puglia festival, which typically draws visitors to its seaside venues, now faces heightened attention not for its literary line-up but for the political crossfire surrounding one guest.

Context

The writer Eskhol Nevo has not publicly addressed the petition at the time of reporting. His works have been widely translated, and his appearance at the festival had been announced earlier this spring without incident. The controversy erupted in the final weeks before the event, putting pressure on organisers just as summer cultural calendars in Italy begin to fill.