J. K. Rowling tops list of UK artists opposing Israel boycott

Over 150 British authors, lawmakers and artists sign letter calling for dialogue, coexistence between Israel, Palestinians

A star-studded cast of over 150 British writers and artists on Thursday published a public letter in The Guardian opposing a cultural boycott of Israel and encouraging coexistence and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

The list includes Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, popular historians Simon Schama and Simon Sebag Montefiore, as well as 14 members of Parliament and former cabinet member Eric Pickles.

In the letter, the signatories counter a letter published in the paper in February which called for a boycott of Israel. “Artists for Palestine UK” was comprised of over 700 musicians, actors, writers, sculptors, painters, designers, filmmakers and technicians who vowed to maintain their pledge “until Israel respects international law and ends its colonial oppression of the Palestinians.”

“Culture for Coexistence,” on the other hand, on Thursday said that it seeks “to inform and encourage dialogue about Israel and the Palestinians in the wider cultural and creative community.”

“While we may not all share the same views on the policies of the Israeli government, we all share a desire for peaceful coexistence,” the letter said.

The open letter came out as Israel and the Palestinians were embroiled in a deadly cycle of violence, with near daily stabbing and other attacks on Israelis in Jerusalem, across the country and in the West Bank, and frequent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in the West Bank.

“Cultural boycotts singling out Israel are divisive and discriminatory, and will not further peace. Open dialogue and interaction promote greater understanding and mutual acceptance, and it is through such understanding and acceptance that movement can be made towards a resolution of the conflict,” the letter stated.

The Guardian pointed out that the list is notably absent of Palestinian names.

“This is essentially a British initiative – we haven’t reached out to Israelis or Palestinians,” Loraine da Costa, head of the group, told the paper. “If there are Palestinians who’d like to be part of our initiative, we’d love to reach out to them.”

A curious point is that author Denis MacEoin appears on the list along with his two pen names, Daniel Easterman and Jonathan Aycliffe.