The Arab Publishers Union announced in a statement today, Saturday, its withdrawal from participating in the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023.

Moreover, the union expressed its "deep sadness" regarding the biased and unjust stance of the fair toward the tragic events that the Palestinian people are experiencing, under the longest occupation in modern history, which has turned into an apartheid system that exerts extreme pressure and makes Gaza an open prison for more than 2.2 million people in addition to the martyrdom of 1,900 Palestinians by the occupying forces in 6 days, more than 10 percent of whom are children.

The union continued in the statement, addressed to Juergen Boos, the director of the fair: "We certainly condemn any assault on civilians from any party, but viewing the issue from a one-sided perspective and accepting this injustice that the Palestinian people have been subjected to for decades is a grave mistake. Furthermore, your statements do not at all reflect the exceptional Arab relationships that have developed over the years between the management of the Frankfurt Book Fair and Arab publishers."