Sally Rooney, the Irish famous author of literary works boycotted an Israeli publisher from translating and publishing her works. The move was hailed by Palestinian society and independent activists as a peaceful move against violence and occupation.
In a world where compromise and collusion are pervasive everywhere, autonomy and endurance may be more valuable. To be honest, accepting the humble position of silence may lead to more fame, but not name. History usually chooses those who run against personal interests.
Sally Rooney is one of those whose name you might rarely be confronted with in mainstream media. Her decision to boycott Israel is a major run against the tide. Rooney discredited an Israeli publisher and refused the translation of her works to Hebrew, official Israeli language.
Back in 2005, a similar boycott by Palestinian civil society faced derision by some groups. The movement made no significant achievement, but launched a new road to Palestinian resistance.
Sally Rooney said explicitly that her determination was in reaction to a demand from Palestinian civil society. The mockers are quite picky about what they listen to and comprehend.
Rooney’s choice coincided with the renowned Susan Sarandon’s use of Indigenous Peoples’ Day to tweet an info-graphic depicting Israel’s seizure of Palestinian land from the onset of the twentieth century. This was contrasted to the seizure of Native American territory by European colonizers in the same info-graphic.
In both situations, the invasion, segregation, and settlement showed their displeasure. This was communicated, predictably, “anti-Semitism” was the pretext; the sheer fact that peace is violated through a claimed seeking for peace.
Sally Rooney is for sure standing in the right side of history, tackling with the double-standard game of the history-makers. She clearly knows that standing for peace is far from religious, ethnic, or racial considerations.
Sally Rooney and New History
“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 Irish Sally Rooney wrote.
Arab nations that went through normalization of ties with Israel, particularly those in the Persian Gulf region, have embraced the Israeli insecure technological and security apparatus industries at the Dubai Expo. Besides, they trusted with Israeli cybersecurity products that backfired with an intense security scandal.
A most recent example was Iraq election, where Israeli hackers used Emirati servers to hack the election. They got access to the data of 9.6 million voters, disputing the already controversial election results. From Arab normalizers to western allies, those who trusted Tel Aviv, saw the consequences in one way or another.
Rooney referred specifically to Human Rights Watch’s compelling research in declaring her critical unwillingness to remain quiet or passive in the face of this obvious truth. She also reaffirmed her commitment to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which aims to eliminate Israel’s verified mistreatment of Palestinians. BDS also aims to compel Israel to ultimately abide with international law via major and minor acts of resistance.
Sally Rooney is a 30-year-old Irish author and screenwriter. Considered as one of the foremost millennial writers, Rooney has written three novels, the most famous of which is Normal People later adapted to TV series.
Sally Rooney’s bravery in lightening up the hidden truth behind the ruins of Palestine through a cultural and societal product is appreciable. Long as we remember, the move against injustice and violence led to more violence and segregation. Such moves may prove critical in securing peace while running against violence.
