ROME (AFP-EJP)--- Italy's president Giorgio Napolitano on Monday defended his decision to open a book fair in Turin honoring Israeli writers, despite calls for a boycott by some Arab and Italian intellectuals angered by the event.
President Giorgio Napolitano's office said his planned visit at Thursday's inauguration of the event, one of the largest book fair in Europe, is in line with his participation in many cultural events.
The five-day book fair, which opens Thursday, is honouring Israel to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Jewish state.
Muslim intellectuals opposed to the choice of Israel as the guest of honour at this year's book fair launched a seminar Monday on "ethnic cleansing in Palestine."
Several Muslim writers, intellectuals and artists as well as the Free Palestine association kicked off the two-day seminar at the University of Turin titled "Western Democracies and Ethnic Cleansing in Palestine."
A spokesman for the organizers, Tariq Ramadan, on Monday criticized the planned presence of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the book fair.
"His presence shows that this is a political event and not only a cultural event," the ANSA press agency quoted Ramadan as saying at a press conference in Turin.
Ramadan also accused Napolitano of labeling as anti-Semites all those who
criticize Israel, ANSA reported.
The presidency's office rejected as false Ramadan's assertion.
"Criticizing Israel's policies is completely legitimate. What is unacceptable is any position that denies the legitimacy of the state of Israel... and its right to exist in peace and security," a statement said.
A Swiss academic, Tariq Ramadan is the grandson of Hassan El-Banna, the Egyptian founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, an international Sunni Islamist movement.
Ramadan said last week that he would not "offer his support to 60 years of a policy of oppression of the Palestinian people."
More than 300,000 people visited last year's fair in Turin.
A similar dispute arose at the Paris book fair in March, where Israel was also the guest of honour.
Several Muslim countries boycotted the event, inaugurated by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Organizers have said the fair hosts each year the culture of a different country, present with its authors and publishers, exhibitions, shows, artists, viewpoints and in-depth analysis.
Over the years Catalonia, Holland, Switzerland, Canada, Greece, Brazil, Portugal and Lithuania have been in the limelight.
The organizers said the move this year was merely intended to honor Israel's writers, many of whom have been critical of their government's policies.
The organizers also said that invitations to noted critics of Israel, including Ramadan, had been turned down.
The fair runs through May 12, featuring book presentations and debates with top Israeli writers, including A.B. Yehoshua, Aharon Appelfeld, Amos Oz and David Grossman.