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Rula Jebreal is a Palestinian journalist, foreign policy analyst, novelist, and screenwriter. Her first novel Miral was adapted into a film of the same name. Directed by Julian Schnabel, Miral had Freida Pinto playing the title role.
Originally called Amos Klausner, Oz Amos was an Israeli short story writer, novelist, essayist, and educator, known for his advocacy of two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Professor Hebrew literature at Ben-Gurion University, he wrote forty books, many of which have been translated into forty-five languages, earning him numerous international awards and honors, including Legion of Honour of France.
Nobel Prize-winning Israeli author Shmuel Yosef Agnon remains one of the most significant Hebrew authors of his time. Homeschooled by his parents, he published his first poem at 15. Best known for works such as A Guest for the Night and The Bridal Canopy, he was also inspired by German literature.
One of Israel’s most significant poets, Yehuda Amichai was born to Jewish parents in Germany and later moved to Jerusalem, where he fought for the British Army during World War II. His works, such as Now and in Other Days, carry themes of war, Jewish history, and the philosophy of life.
A. B. Yehoshua is an Israeli essayist, novelist, and playwright. He is one of the most influential and important personalities in the new wave generation of writers in Israel. Many of Yehoshua's works have been adapted for theatre, opera, television, and film. Over the years, he has received many awards, such as the Brenner Prize, Alterman Prize, and Israel Prize.
Israeli author Aharon Appelfeld was 8 when the Nazis captured him and his family. While he lost his mother to the Holocaust, he and his father were sent to a labor camp. After escaping the camp, he traveled to Ukraine and Palestine, took up odd jobs, and even studied philosophy.
Palestinian-Israeli author Emile Habibi was not only a prominent figure in Arabic literature but also formed his own narrative style, known as the Habibian, mixing storytelling and activism. A fine politician, too, he was part of the Knesset. He was also awarded the Israel Prize for Arabic literature.
Yizhar Smilansky, better known by his pen name, S. Yizhar, was born into a family of writers and later grew up to be one of the most significant figures of Israeli literature. The Israel Prize winner is known for his varied books, including war literature and children’s books.
Israeli author and artist Amos Kenan was born to a construction worker father and dropped out of high school to join a Zionist movement. Part of the Canaanite movement, he penned a satirical column and plays that were inspired by the theater of the absurd. He was also a talented sculptor.
Abraham Shlonsky was an Israeli poet who played an important role in the progression of modern Hebrew in Israel. He also worked as an editor and translated several literary classics. In 1946, he was honored with the Tchernichovsky Prize for his translation of Eugene Onegin and Hamlet. He was also the recipient of the Bialik Prize and the Israel Prize.
Israel Prize-winning author Amalia Kahana-Carmon soared to fame with her first collection of tales, Under One Roof, which was later touted as one of the greatest additions to Hebrew literature. Her themes mostly deal with the plight of women in male-dominated societies. She had also been a radio operator and a librarian.
