Sally Rooney accused of ‘antisemitism in a new guise’ by Israeli minister
Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai condemned the Irish author, saying BDS 'is a certificate of poor conduct for her and others who behave like her'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Best-selling author Sally Rooney has been accused of “antisemitism in a new guise” after refusing to allow her new novel to be translated into Hebrew by an Israeli company.
The Irish author confirmed she had declined an offer from Israeli publishing company Modan to translate her latest book Beautiful World, Where Are You into Hebrew – labelling Israel an apartheid state based on a “system of racial domination.”
Rooney’s first two novels – Conversations With Friends and Normal People – were both published by Moden in Hebrew. Her latest book, published in September has already topped the book sales chart in the UK.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the 30 year-old writer attempted to deny she had enforced a complete ban on her new book being translated into Hebrew.
The self-declared Marxist author said Hebrew-language translation rights were “still available” but only “if I can find a way to sell these rights that is compliant with the BDS movement’s institutional boycott guidelines.”
But Israel’s Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai has strongly condemned Rooney’s actions saying: “The cultural boycott of Israel, antisemitism in a new guise, is a certificate of poor conduct for her and others who behave like her.”
Meanwhile the Board of Deputies vice-president David Mendoza-Wolfson accused the author of taking part in a “masterclass of disingenuity” by saying she would not allow her book to be published in “the language of the Jewish people unless it is permitted by those who advocate the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state.”
Labour’s Dame Louise Ellman joined the criticism of the Rooney saying:”It is very disturbing that the world’s only Jewish majority state is being singled out.”
On the Jewish-American site Forward Dr GItit Lvy-Paz a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, wrote:”The very essence of literature, its power to bring a sense of coherence and order to the world, is negated by Rooney’s choice to exclude a group of readers because of their national identity.”
- VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS: Perhaps Sally Rooney should just mime her next novel
Dave Rich, director of communications at the Community Security Trust (CST), added:”Hebrew isn’t an Israeli state product or invention. It’s a Jewish language and cultural boycotts are unavoidably boycotts of people not governments.”
In an editorial on Wednesday The Times newspaper highlighted the fact that her previously hit novel Normal People had been published in 46 languages – including Russian, but the author had raised no concern about alleged human rights abuses in occupied Ukraine.
Similarly, Normal People was also published in China, and believed to have been published in Arabic states such as Saudi Arabia, without human rights issues there being raised.
Rooney – who second novel was turned into a BBC series last year – has made her support for the Palestinian cause known for sometime.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel said Palestinians “warmly welcomed” her decision, while others said she had been misrepresented.
The Labour MP Zarah Sultana showed her support for the author’s actions by tweeting her name with a heart symbol.
Rooneyis not the first author to refuse translation into Hebrew on political grounds.
Alice Walker, author of Pulitzer prize-winning The Color Purple, refused Hebrew translation of the book in 2012 because of what she referred to as Israel’s “apartheid state”.
The BDS movement was formed in 2005 and calls for an international boycott of Israel, including its cultural and economic and academic institutions.
Israel has rejected comparisons with South Africa’s apartheid system by BDS campaigners as a smear tactic.
In 2019 Germany’s parliament said BDS actions such as placing warning stickers on products from Israel was reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi campaign.
In 2017 Israel passed a law denying entry into country for those with links to BDS.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
