Lost In Translation [Updated]

at

 Sally Rooney

 

This afternoon.

Via Sally Rooney:

“Firstly, I was very proud to have my previous two novels translated into Hebrew by Katyah Benovits. I would like to thank everyone involved in the publication of those books for supporting my work. Likewise, it would be an honour for me to have my latest novel translated into Hebrew and available to Hebrew-language readers. But for the moment, I have chosen not to sell these translation rights to an Israeli-based publishing house.

“Earlier this year, the international campaign group Human Rights Watch published a report entitled ‘A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution’. That report, coming on the heels of a similarly damning report by Israel’s most prominent human rights organization B’Tselem, confirmed what Palestinian human rights groups have long been saying: Israel’s system of racial domination and segregation against Palestinians meets the definition of apartheid under international law.

“The Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a Palestinian-led, anti-racist and nonviolent grassroots campaign calling for an economic and cultural boycott of complicit Israeli companies and institutions in response to the apartheid system and other grave human rights violations. It is modelled on the economic and cultural boycott that helped to end apartheid in South Africa.

“Of course, many states other than Israel are guilty of grievous human rights abuses. This was also true of South Africa during the campaign against apartheid there. In this particular case, I am responding to the call from Palestinian civil society, including all major Palestinian trade unions and writers’ unions.

“I understand that not everyone will agree with my decision, 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 UN-stipulated rights of the Palestinian people.

“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. In the meantime I would like to express once again my solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Thank you.”

Earlier…

This morning.

Shalom.

Meanwhile…

Translation: When God was doling out brains, you were asleep.

מַאֲבָק!

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34 thoughts on “Lost In Translation [Updated]

  1. Nigel

    It’s clear that she isn’t refusing to have it translated into Hebrew, but to have it published by a particular publisher, which seems like a fairly crucial distinction.

    1. Fergalito

      You’re absolutely right – i had though based on the paper’s posted earlier that she was refusing to publish in Hebrew. No qualms with her decision whatsoever now you’ve clarified what i read in haste.

    2. Daisy Chainsaw

      Even more crucial when you learn that the publisher is owned by the IDF. Their profits directly fund violence and terror against Palestine.

      1. E'Matty

        It always disturbs me when I find us in agreement. I’d agree fully though that Rooney is perfectly entitled to block the Israeli Defence Forces profiting from her creative work.

    3. ian-oG

      Which is absolutely fair enough. Plenty of people will not deal with American firms that have links to the US military and that is fine, so I see no difference here in her stance.

  2. Broadbag

    Good for her, knowing she would face an ugly pile-on but doing it anyway because of her principles, fair play!

    1. Mr.T

      it’s based solely on “anti-semitism”

      A load of nonsense though – Israel is an apartheid state involved in land-stealing and mass murder.
      Religion doesnt come into it. (unless you work for the JIDF)

  3. johnny

    Well done Sally.

    ..best thing ever happened jews in states was embracing the previous guy,schmucks.

    yeah,really,that Ben and Jerry’s (COHEN) are anit-semetic….the most JAP brand for those curious,pseudo intellectual upper west side bookish,JAP’s (jewish american princess).

    -Cohen struck a more bullish tone: “[It was] totally fine because it’s absurd. What, I’m anti-Jewish? I’m a Jew. My family is Jewish. My friends are Jewish-

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-jerrys-founders-its-a-boycott-of-settlements-not-of-israel/

    Bean and Jerry’s on BDS-Axios-HBO-last sunday,at one point,actually not long ago,Isreal occupied a special place in US politics,like NI today,of being a non partnership issue,no longer.

  4. Shitferbrains

    Irish catholic who only writes about Irish catholics boycott Jews . Hold the presses stuff. Cultural boycotts are book burnings without the fun uniforms. Jews aren’t fooled.

    1. Fearganainm

      Except that’s not what she’s doing or saying:

      …She went on to acknowledge that not everyone will agree with her, but that she did not feel it would be right to collaborate with an Israeli company “that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid and support the UN-stipulated rights of the Palestinian people. 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…”

      https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/12/sally-rooney-beautiful-world-where-are-you-israeli-publisher-hebrew

    2. george

      Do any of her books mention the religion of her characters? I don’t think they do.

      It isn’t a cultural boycott, it is a boycott of Israeli businesses and institutions by artists.

  5. D-troll

    is mark saying the critics of sally have no brains, or sally has no brains.im assuming the latter on the guess that he is quoting hebrew.

  6. Shitferbrains

    Sally Rooney makes claims about BDS that the leaders have long since abandoned. See Omar Baghouti on whether or not there’ll be any Israel or Jews left when it’s finished. And HRW produces reports for cash.

  7. ce

    I’d say there’s a lot of spots in the middle east that would be a little offended at all the ridin’ … and the gaa… they’ll be hoping the arabic and farsi versions get nixed too…

  8. Free Lunch

    Sally Rooney? Who cares.

    Not even worth Google translating.

    Normal People was delinquent bilge for non-Trinity students and delusional Arts 1st years

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