Sally Rooney, the acclaimed Irish novelist, has published a Hebrew translation of her latest novel, Intermezzo, through November Books, an independent Israeli publisher that supports Palestinian rights. This move comes more than four years after she rejected a translation offer for an earlier novel due to her support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Background of the Decision
Rooney, 35, is known for her four wildly popular novels, which have been translated into dozens of languages. Her first two books, Conversations with Friends and Normal People, were translated into Hebrew by Modan, an Israeli publisher. However, in 2021, she declined Modan’s offer to translate her third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, citing her desire to support the BDS movement. The BDS campaign, led by Palestinians, aims to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.
Regret and Responsibility
In a conversation with Irish Palestinian artist and activist Samir Eskanda, Rooney expressed regret over her past collaboration with a publisher she later discovered had ties to the Israeli military. “How could my actions be so inconsistent with my beliefs?” she said. By the time her third book was published, she felt a greater sense of responsibility as a public figure. Modan did not respond to a request for comment.
November Books: A BDS-Compliant Publisher
November Books is the only Israeli publisher that meets the BDS movement’s conditions for exemption from the boycott. It does not operate in illegal Israeli settlements, receives no Israeli state funding, and explicitly recognizes Palestinian legal rights, including the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The publisher has also released translations of works by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Naomi Klein, and Irish writer Colum McCann, which other Israeli publishers reportedly refused to handle.
Ishai Menuchin, director of November Books, stated that publishing books by authors associated with the boycott movement demonstrates to Israeli readers that opposition to occupation, apartheid, and genocide lies at the heart of the boycott—a legitimate form of political protest.
Backlash and Criticism
Rooney faced significant backlash when she announced her position. A senior Israeli official called it “the cultural boycott of Israel antisemitism in a new guise.” Others criticized her for refusing a Hebrew translation while allowing her novels to be translated in countries with records of human rights abuses. However, Rooney clarified that she was boycotting the Israeli cultural sector’s complicity in apartheid, not the Hebrew language or Israeli readers. “For me, the act of translation is in itself a beautiful ideal,” she said.
Eskanda noted that the boycott targets institutions rather than individuals and complicity, not identity. “Our task as a movement is to channel anger at Israel’s genocide in Gaza into the most meaningful initiatives,” he added.
Broader Context of the BDS Movement
Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the BDS movement has grown exponentially over the last two decades. Since Israel’s war on Gaza in 2023, thousands of artists, musicians, and film workers have refused to work with Israeli cultural institutions deemed complicit in violating Palestinian rights. At least 2,000 arts organizations, including major film festivals, theatres, and museums, have signed on. The boycott of Israeli publishers has received support from over 7,000 authors and advocacy groups.
Support for Palestine Action
Rooney has also expressed support for Palestine Action, a group banned in the UK under the Terrorism Act, drawing criticism for conflating protest with terrorism. She said it was “almost certain” she would no longer be able to publish new work in the UK while the ban remained. The UK high court recently ruled the ban unlawful, but the decision is under appeal.
Rooney’s Stand Against Self-Censorship
Rooney said she was warned that speaking out about Palestinian rights and supporting the BDS movement could “effectively end” her career. Despite some backlash, she cautioned against self-censorship and fear. “When I do feel that I’m right, I’m not much bothered by criticism,” she said. “Who has ever stood up against injustice without being criticised? If that’s all I have to endure, then it’s very little.”
