An Effort to Track Antisemitism in the Literary World Launches Amid Widespread Anti-Israel Sentiment There
16th February 2024
A wave of intense pro-Palestinian activism within the broad literary community has included bestselling Jewish authors being targeted online as “Zionists,” despite not making comments about Israel; protests against pro-Israel writers; and demonstrations at events, such as a major writers conference in Kansas City this week, that have left some Jews feeling intimidated and unwelcome.
The Jewish Book Council’s new initiative, announced Wednesday, asks people to share evidence of alleged antisemitism and promises to maintain anonymity for those who submit.
“We encourage reports of both smaller-scale incidents (such as an individual getting review-bombed because their book includes Jewish content) and larger incidents (such as Jewish literary professionals facing threats of intimidation and violence),” the group said in its announcement. It added, “The hope is that, by reporting and recording antisemitism in the literary world, we can help to put support systems in place for those affected.”