Over 1,000 Authors Vowed to Boycott Israeli Literary Institutions

Over 1,000 authors have vowed to boycott Israeli literary institutions, citing the ongoing crisis in Gaza and advocating for Palestinian rights.

on Oct 29, 2024

Over 1,000 Authors Vowed to Boycott Israeli Literary Institutions | Frontlist

Over 1,000 authors and literary professionals have signed an open letter committing to boycott Israeli literary institutions that they believe contribute to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestine. This initiative, described by organizers as the largest cultural boycott of Israel to date, draws parallels to the three-decade boycott of South African institutions that played a role in dismantling apartheid.

The signatories expressed that they “cannot in good conscience” engage with any Israeli entities that have participated in the oppression and displacement of Palestinians. They described the current situation as a “profound moral, political, and cultural crisis of the 21st century”, asserting that Israel has rendered Gaza unlivable.

Among the notable signatories are influential figures such as Naomi Klein, Susan Abulhawa, Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux, Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen, and popular authors like Sally Rooney and Jia Tolentino. The letter emphasizes the role of culture in normalizing injustices and points to Israeli cultural institutions that collaborate with the state to obscure the plight of Palestinians.

The initiative was organized by six groups, including Books Against Genocide and Writers Against the War on Gaza, which conducted research revealing that of the 98 Israeli publishers, only one—November Books—aligns with their demands for equality and human rights.

Many Israeli publishers, such as Modan Publishing, were accused of producing propaganda books for the Israeli Ministry of Defense, while Bar-Ilan University Press awards books advancing thought on “land building and settlement". Viet Thanh Nguyen stated that he would not endorse the publication of his book, The Refugees, unless his Israeli publisher ceased complicity with Israel’s apartheid and full rights for Palestinians.

The act of signing the letter carries risks, as those advocating for Palestinian rights often face repression within the literary world. Author Lisa Ko highlighted the sinister nature of pressuring writers to remain silent about wartime institutional responses for the sake of career advancement, calling it “antithetical to democratic principles”.