Israel accuses 'narrow-minded' Sally Rooney of 'impeding peace' and backing a campaign 'tainted with anti-Semitism' after Normal People author banned Israeli publisher translating her book into Hebrew
- Sally Rooney, 30, was asked by Israeli publisher Modan to translate her new book
- Author allegedly rejected request due to support of cultural boycott of Israel
- Miss Rooney's new book Beautiful World, Where Are You released in September
- Israeli officials have accused Miss Rooney of 'impeding peace' in Middle East
- A spokesperson told the Telegraph the decision 'promotes narrow-mindedness'
Israeli officials have today accused acclaimed author Sally Rooney of 'impeding peace' in the Middle East by refusing a publisher's offer to have her latest book translated into Hebrew.
The award-winning Irish writer yesterday defended her decision to refuse the translation of 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', by Israeli publisher Modan.
The Normal People author, 30, who was accused of anti-Semitism over the decision, said she supported a cultural boycott of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. In a statement yesterday she said the decision to reject the publisher - who she claimed had 'not publicly distanced itself from apartheid' - was an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people 'in their struggle for freedom and equality'.
But Israeli officials have hit back today, describing Miss Rooney's decision as 'narrow-minded' and impeding peace in the Holy Land.
A spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry told the Telegraph: 'This is an unfortunate position that promotes narrow-mindedness and impedes peace, dialogue, or any meaningful change.
'Literature is a tool to promote dialogue and conversation. There is something inherently flawed with an intellectual who refuses to engage in conversation, and instead supports the silencing of opinion.'
It comes after the award-winning author defended rejecting the publisher's offer to translate her new book - which topped UK and Irish charts since its release in September - saying she backed a cultural boycott of Israel.
However the decision sparked a wave of criticism against the author and screenwriter - whose smash hit book Normal People was adapted into an acclaimed BBC TV drama.
Some took to social media to label Miss Rooney's decision as 'anti-Semitic', while others questioned why her books were published for an audience in China - which has been accused of human rights abuses over its treatment of Uighur Muslims.
But the author defended her decision - which she said was not to have the book published by an Israeli-based publishing house - and that the Hebrew language rights were 'still available'.
Sally Rooney, 30, was asked by Israeli publisher Modan to translate her new book -Beautiful World, Where Are You - but the author allegedly rejected the request
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