Sally Rooney to publish Hebrew translation of novel with BDS-compliant publisher

Sally Rooney is publishing a Hebrew translation of her 2024 novel Intermezzo more than four years after declining a Hebrew translation of her earlier novel Beautiful World, Where Are You. She linked the earlier refusal to support for the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Intermezzo is being published by November Books, an independent Israeli publisher that supports Palestinian rights, in partnership with +972 Magazine and Local Call. Rooney previously had her first two novels translated into Hebrew by Modan. She later expressed regret about having worked with a publisher she believed had ties to the Israeli military. She said November Books meets BDS exemption conditions by not operating in illegal settlements, not receiving Israeli state funding, and explicitly recognizing Palestinian legal rights, including the right of return.

"Rooney is publishing her bestselling 2024 novel, Intermezzo, through November Books, an independent Israeli publisher that supports Palestinian rights, with +972 Magazine and Local Call, two independent media outlets in Israel and Palestine. The 35-year-old has published four wildly popular novels that have been translated into dozens of languages. The first two Conversations with Friends and Normal People were translated into Hebrew by the Israeli publisher Modan."

"In 2021, Rooney turned down a translation offer from the publisher for her third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, citing her desire to support the BDS movement, a Palestinian-led, global campaign that seeks to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law. In a conversation with Irish Palestinian artist and activist Samir Eskanda published on Tuesday, Rooney spoke about her regret at having once worked with a publisher she later realized had ties to the Israeli military."

"How could my actions be so inconsistent with my beliefs? she said. By the time her third book was published, she added, I had also become something of a public figure, and I felt a greater sense of responsibility in making decisions around my work. Modan did not respond to a request for comment."

"November Books is the only Israeli publisher that meets conditions the BDS movement has set for exemption from the boycott. It does not operate in illegal Israeli settlements, receives no Israeli state funding and explicitly recognises the legal rights of Palestinians, including the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Rooney said."

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