Israeli author David Grossman has been named as the recipient of this year's German Book Trade Peace Prize.

"The association and its members have chosen to honor one of Israels foremost authors and an active supporter of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians," read the statement issued by the Board of Trustees of the German Book Trade.

"[Grossman's] books illustrate the extent to which we can only end the cycle of violence, hatred and displacement in the Middle East by means of listening, restraint and the power of words."

Open gallery view David Grossman Credit: AP

David Grossman has received a number of prestigious awards for his literary work and political activism, including the Nelly Sachs Prize (1991), the Premio Mondello (Italy, 1996), Manès Sperber Prize (2002), the Bialik Prize (Israel, 2004), the Emet Prize (Israel, 2007), Geschwister Scholl Prize (2008) and the Albatros Prize (2010).

The award ceremony will take place during the Frankfurt Book Fair on Sunday, October 10, 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany, and will be broadcast live on German public television.

The Peace Prize has been awarded since 1950 and is endowed with a sum of €25,000.