Overview

• The literature festival scheduled for June 19–22 in Berlin has been called off due to a changed security situation in the Middle East.
• The event was a joint effort by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Stiftung Deutsch-Israelisches Zukunftsforum and the Goethe-Institut to foster dialogue among Israeli, German and Austrian authors.
• Seven writers had been set to explore how literature responds to crises following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the ensuing Gaza conflict.
• Airlines have been avoiding Middle Eastern airspace amid recent Iran-Israel tensions, disrupting travel for participants and preventing ZDF moderator Andrea Kiewel from returning from Tel Aviv.
• Organizers will reconvene in the coming weeks to assess on-the-ground developments and determine potential new dates or formats.