Dear colleagues
The al-Ansari collection, with its rich holding of periodicals and
newspapers, is indeed one of the most precious libraries and of an
immense interest for the recent history of Jerusalem. This is why I
am very concerned about the authorities' plans to evacuate the
library. The issue, obviously, is not only part of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, but also shows the general desinterest of
political authorities to care for cultural heritage (especially if
not exactly their's and if not in the focus of the media), something
which too often also happens in other places round the world.
Might I ask our Palestinian, Israeli and foreign colleagues in
Jerusalem to let us know how to support their struggle. And I
specially urge our Israeli colleagues to use, whereever possible, all
of their influence with the Israeli authorities.
Sincerely yours, Andreas Kaplony
--------------------------
Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplony
Orientalisches Seminar, Universität Zürich,
Wiesenstrasse 9, Büro H-05, CH-8008 Zürich
Tel. 0(041)44 634 07 36, Fax 0(041)44 634 36 92
www.ori.uzh.ch. [log in to unmask]
The Arabic Papyrology School: www.ori.uzh.ch/aps
The Arabic Papyrology Database: www.ori.uzh.ch/apd
International Summer School in Arabic Papyrology, 1-8 July 2007,
Vienna: www.onb.ac.at/sammlungen/papyrus/aktuell/summerschool.htm
|