Sally Rooney defends decision to block Hebrew translation of new book

Irish author Sally Rooney's first two novels 2017’s Conversations With Friends and 2018’s Normal People – were both published in Hebrew by Modan. Picture: Kalpesh Lathigra

Sally Rooney has defended her decision not to sell the translation rights to her new book to an Israeli-based publishing house, saying she wants to express her solidarity with the “Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, justice and equality”.

The acclaimed Irish author, 30, said in a statement she felt unable to work with Modan, describing it as a company “that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid and support the UN-stipulated rights of the Palestinian people”.