Toronto Star

Rooney declines Israeli publisher

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Sally Rooney confirmed Tuesday that she has declined to sell Hebrew translatio­n rights for “Beautiful World, Where Are You” to an Israeli publisher.

The Irish writer said in a statement she made her decision because of her support for the Palestinia­n people and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in opposition to the Israeli government.

“I understand that not everyone will agree with my decision,” Rooney said, “but I simply do not feel it would be right for me under the present circumstan­ces to accept a new contract with an Israeli company that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid and support the U.N. stipulated rights of the Palestinia­n people.”

On social media, some writers expressed support while others questioned why Rooney wasn’t declining translatio­ns in Russia or China, whose government­s are also accused of human rights abuses.

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