![]() ![]() ![]() She says that in deciding to block the Israeli publication of her new novel, Rooney risks stereotyping an entire people. Allison Pearson argues also in the paper that Sally Rooney’s ‘cultural boycott’ is a betrayal of literature itself. In The Telegraph, Jake Wallis Simons writes that Rooney’s decision is nothing but a futile millennial gesture. As I say, they couldn’t give a toss which of their citizens get to read about the tangled love-lives and troubled consciences of Rooney’s protagonists.” There’s no soft-power blow that withdrawing her book strikes to the prestige of the Israeli regime, either. The publishing house is a private rather than a state concern. Sam Leith, literary editor of The Spectator, argues in UnHerd: “What does Rooney intend to achieve? She’s a bestseller, sure but not to the extent, I imagine, that missing out on her new paperback will damage the Israeli economy. Perhaps she will also object to a Hindu translation, thanks to India’s treatment of Kashmir, and also an Urdu one, thanks to Pakistan’s.” Turkish little better, what with the Kurds. Will Miss Rooney’s new book now be published in only 45 languages? If so, is a Russian translation off the cards, thanks to the occupation of Ukraine and the persecution and murder of political dissidents? Arabic will be a problem, what with Saudi Arabia’s denial of basic freedoms to women. ![]() It says: “The two problems with her decision are where she is boycotting and that she is boycotting at all. The Times publishes its view on the matter. The problem may be partly down to the fact that Rooney comes from Ireland.” In The Spectator, Julie Burchill writes: “In the interests of consistency, I do hope that Miss Rooney will be forgoing the massive Chinese market by refusing to be translated by a regime which sterilises and enslaves its minorities and that she will also boycott an Arabic translation, considering how many Arab countries treat women as a cross between children and chattels and enjoy executing homosexuals. Israel’s Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai said: “The cultural boycott of Israel, anti-Semitism in a new guise, is a certificate of poor conduct for her and others who behave like her.” The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel said Palestinians “warmly welcomed” her decision, while others said she had been misrepresented. Rooney said it would “be an honour” to have Beautiful World, Where Are You translated into Hebrew by a company that is “compliant with the BDS movement’s institutional boycott guidelines”. The acclaimed writer said it was in support of calls to boycott Israel over its policies towards the Palestinians. In the UK media the BBC, The Times, The Telegraph, the Guardian, The Spectator, Sky News cover Irish author Sally Rooney’s announcement yesterday that she is refusing to allow her new book to be translated into Hebrew by an Israeli company. ![]()
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