New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS): Israel will be the flavour of the fifth edition of the Kovalam Literary Festival Oct 3 at the India International Centre in the capital followed by a two-day session at the Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram Oct 5-6.

Two writers - Sarai Shavit and Dorit Rabinyan - and musician Tal Kravitz will bring slices of Israel's culture and their observations of India in three literary sessions at the festival, a communique from festival founder Binoo John said.

Shavit, the author of "India Express" in Hebrew, was inpsired to write about India while staying at a guest house in the capital. The book relates the story of Mali Mualem who comes in search of her brother and meets an investigator.

Rabinyan has written a children's book and a screenplay for television, "Shuli's Fiance", which won the Israeli Academy Award for the best drama in 1997. Rabinyan hosts a weekly television magazine and lives in Tel Aviv.

The festival, sponsored by Muthooth and Vivanta by Taj, will host nearly two dozen writers in 20 sessions. The miniature edition in the national capital will feature six sessions.

The Kerala edition of the festival will begin with the K.C. John Memorial Lecture, "Are the Poor Getting Poorer" by actvist Binayak Sen, after which he will be in discussion with Ilina Sen and Vrinda Grover.

A posse of Indian writers, including Farrukh Dhondy, Timeri Murari, N.S. Madhavan, Nilanjana Roy and C.P. Surendran will discuss the evolving Indian novel while the "The Tattooed Fakir", a new historical fiction by Biman Nath will launched at the festival.

Other writers at the festival include Sri Lankan Ru Freeman, Sonia Falerio, Aroon Raman, Roderick Mathew and Nilanjana Roy.

The Delhi-based Indian Ocean will close the two-day carnival with a free concert.