“We have become more open to listening to Palestinians and expressing sympathy for Palestinians living under occupation,” he said. “I particularly wanted to appeal to a liberal and center-left Jewish audience who would be happy to hear this message.”
The book was published on October 3, and Thrall, an American who lives in Jerusalem, traveled to the UK and US for talks to promote the book. But as the Israel-Gaza war unfolded, Thrall estimates that a quarter of his appearances have been cancelled.
First, Conway Hall, which was scheduled to host the book launch event at a 400-seat venue in London, pulled out of the event, citing safety concerns in an email to organizers. (Conway Hall CEO Jim Walsh told The Washington Post he could confirm he had been contacted by the Metropolitan Police Department about the event, but could not comment on any safety concerns raised. ) It also canceled similar gatherings, from breakfasts with host lawmakers in U.S. cities from Washington to Houston to conferences on Palestinian rights.
“The unfortunate thing is that this is an opportunity. This is a moment where people listen and understand, and people want more information. They want to understand the system in which Israelis and Palestinians live,” Thrall said. “It’s sad that people are afraid to even have a conversation about this book that tells what it’s really like to live in this place, both for Palestinians and for Jews.”
B’nai Jeshurun, a synagogue in New York, has decided to cancel the lecture and accompanying study guide, writing in an email to Thrall, “Hopefully some tranquility will be restored and we will have more space. ” suggested they might consider rescheduling for a later date. in people’s hearts. ”
In a phone interview detailing the decision, Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon said the community needed space to handle more pressing concerns. “We have been talking about the injustice of the occupation for a very long time. Now is not the time to analyze it. For many people on a personal level, and for us as Jews, now is the time for October It’s time to think about what to do about this huge event that happened on the 7th.”
Writers Block, a Los Angeles literary nonprofit, has also decided to cancel its Nov. 3 event with Thrall and Salama. “I absolutely loved this book,” said founder Andrea Grossman. “I was excited that Mr. Abed Salama was coming to talk about this matter. But global conflicts got in my way.”
Grossman was torn between feeling that there was a particularly urgent need to have the conversation right now and feeling that she had to care for the communities she served. “It became clear that Los Angeles remains extremely polarized in response to Israel, to the demonstrations,” she said. “The Los Angeles Jewish community and the broader community felt so torn that I couldn’t believe that the conversation could go on uninterrupted. What did I mean by ‘disruption’?” I don’t know what it is, but I cannot take responsibility for it. ”
These incidents are part of a wave of canceled events in the literary world in response to the war and the controversy surrounding it. At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, the German Literary Association awarded Palestine with the 2023 Liberatorpreis Prize for “the war started by Hamas and under which millions of people in Israel have been sacrificed.” A ceremony honoring author Adanya Shibli’s novel “Minor Detail” has been canceled. And Palestine is suffering. ” Cultural organization 92NY has suspended its prestigious reading series following an outcry over the cancellation of an event with novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen, who signed an open letter criticizing Israel. Several other writers declined scheduled appearances on 92NY, and some Poetry Center staff members also resigned.
Thrall said he is unsure whether recent events indicate that the public is willing to address the issues raised in his book, saying, “The direct impact of recent events, “It’s really hard to know the temporal impact of immediate emotional reactions to October 7th.” And war, and something permanent. ”
However, he sees a gap between conversations with media bookers, editors and heads of cultural institutions, where there is a “pronounced rightward shift and a lack of any kind of sympathy for or criticism of the Palestinians.” “The fear of making statements has increased significantly.” Israel” in conversation with his students. “We’re really seeing solidarity protests with Palestinians on a scale we’ve never seen before. I think there’s a huge gap between where the young people are and where the gatekeepers are. ”
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