The drama's outside: protests target Israeli take on Shakespeare

The Independent: Security around the Globe to Globe Festival escalated last night, to put it mildly, when Habima, the National Theatre of Israel, presented The Merchant of Venice. These precautions are hardly surprising, given the controversy aroused by the decision to invite Habima to participate in the international Bard-binge. Nor were the peaceful, heavily policed protests outside. The pro-Palestinian contingent handed out engravings of a Shakespeare saying: "No! to Occupation & Colonisation For 'Tis Illegal Under International Law". The pro-Israeli group waved placards declaring that "Boycotts Divide".