Rooney turns down translation rights offer from Israeli publisher

Irish novelist Sally Rooney has turned down an offer to have her latest novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You (Faber), translated into Hebrew by Israeli publisher Modan, reports the Guardian.

Modan, which put in a bid for Hebrew translation rights for Beautiful World, Where Are You, published Rooney’s previous two novels.

In a statement, Rooney said her decision is in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which works to ‘end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law’.

Citing reports from Human Rights Watch and Israel’s human rights organisation B’Tselem, Rooney said: ‘Israel’s system of racial domination and segregation against Palestinians meets the definition of apartheid under international law.’

‘The Hebrew-language translation rights to my new novel are still available, and if I can find a way to sell these rights that is compliant with the BDS movement’s institutional boycott guidelines, I will be very pleased and proud to do so,’ said Rooney. ‘In the meantime I would like to express once again my solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, justice and equality.’

Category: International news