Harry Potter in Arabic A No Go In Israel

In many cases all over the world, Harry Potter fans wait a YEAR or more for translations of the original books. Arabic reading Muggles in Israel are getting their supply cut off just as they about to learn the fates of Harry & Lord Voldemort. Israel's Ministry of Magic Pureblood Publishing (Trade Industry & Treasury) objects on legalities to the source of the Arabic translations originating from Israel's most undiplomatic version of Death Eaters, Syria and Lebanon.

Arab-Israeli publisher Salah Abassi told Israeli public radio on Monday that authorities ordered him to stop importing Arabic-language children's books from the two longtime foes of Israel.

"The trade and industry ministry and treasury warned me that importing those books is illegal," said Abassi, who imported the books through Jordan.

Let's see in the last two years, Israel destroyed the ominous threat of a Syrian nuclear facility and tried to bomb Lebanon back to the Phoenician era as the IDF chased down kidnappers and terrorists. Whether a state of war exists is important to the wooden puppet turned into a lying boy and the sacrificial boy lamb turned into a wizard as it forms the foundation of the Umbridge-like decree. Since 1939, before Israel was a vested nation, laws were set that prohibited trade with any nation at war with Israel, even if it involves selling beloved children's books. Seems the boy wizard, Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley caused other trouble last year in Israel on the Sabbath with some booksellers, risking fines, opening to meet the demand. Whatever will happen with Rowling's December's release of The Tales of the Beedle the Bard with all that commentary from the late Professor Dumbledore?

Maybe, Jiminy Cricket at the Ministry of Translation Magic can get the Italian born Pinocchio to join the IDF.

uh, oh who's translating...

Twilight, Teens & Vampires

Completely missed, ignored or insanely oblivious to the whole brouhaha happening in damp Forks, Washington. No worries because Harry Potter wasn't working for me until Order of the Phoenix. Jordan, Edward mix it up over a teenager character named Bella with a bit of a Goth twist in a rainy landscape. Some book people and editors at Entertainment Weekly have completely fallen out of the trees onto their pointy heads hyping the Twilight series as the next Harry Potter, uh no. It does have just under 2,000 people gushing over it on Amazon.

Bringing the funny to the comparison is the Edward Cullen actor in the Twilight movie was Cedric Diggory in the HP movie, making that the only tie between the two media entities. Bella burgers and midnight parties are rare with few authors drawing crowds to offset the event costs. In September, Brsingr the third installment of the Christopher Paolini fantasy series will bring out a fair few fans too.

Movie kickoff for Twilight holds a last choice in a 3 for $20 sale DVD appeal. However, the artistic book jacket for Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyers kicks ass. Supposedly it's the last one in the series, we will see after everybody finishes counting their filthy lucre while seeing the clamor from the bitingly committed teen girl fan base.