Mario Vargas Llosa, the Peruvian novelist now resident in Europe is not everyone's cup of tea. Aside from being an inventive and very competent writer (does this sound like faint praise? - I actually like his writing a lot but there remains a slight doubt as to whether it scales the heights of greatness) - he is a once would be politician and now chronicler of modern events. Among his recent 'targets' is the state of Israel. In El Pais newspaper, Madrid and reproduced in La Naciòn, Argentina we have recently been able to read a number of articles on his visit to Israel and his exploration of both the Israeli and Palestine sides. His daughter accompanied him to take photos with her Jewish boyfriend in tow. The interesting feature of the articles apart from his excellent interviews with a variety of people from writers, politicians to ordinary people in the street is that this once defender of the state of Israel has become decidedly more critical of what he has seen. He spares little criticism of the Israelis and tends to blame most of the mess of the Palestine state on the restricitions Israel has put on it. Not surprisingly a variety of Jewish voices have come out against him and seem at least disappointed with his stance. Given Vargas Llosas rather right wing attitudes on certain issues in the past, is he mellowing with age? If you get a chance to read these articles, they are well worth the effort.
