After armed Israeli forces shut down the final night of the Palestine Literary Festival at the Palestine National Theatre in Jerusalem, the British Consul General, Richard Makepeace, stepped in and led the way to the British Council offices where the show was allowed to go on.  Makepeace welcomed the attendees and stressed the importance of building cultural relations between Britain and the Palestinian people.  Dr Rafiq Al Husseini, Abbas' Chief of Staff, praised the 'brave' stance taken by the UK, as did Rania Elias, head of Yabous Institute, organiser of the event, who said 'there is new and serious positions adopted by diplomatic missions in Jerusalem...these positions are really encouraging...we hope other foreign countries could adopt the same approach'.  Khaled Abu Aker, head of Amini interviews, said 'Some countries are turning a blind eye on the Jerusalem issues, but other countries are not, and are saying culture should not be banned by any one'.

SOURCE: Al Quds, 29 May 2009; Ma'an News Agency, 28 May 2009