Cultural Boycott

Protesters commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Nakba in Milan, Italy, May 15, 2025. (Avishay Mohar/Activestills)

The Palestine movement must seek power over purity

To confront a genocidal regime, we need to translate global attention into measurable achievements and build coalitions in every arena of influence.

By Abed Abou Shhadeh June 18, 2026

Graffiti calling to boycott Israel, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, December 17, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)

On boycott strategy and publishing Sally Rooney in Hebrew

Boycott exists for one reason: Palestine's liberation from Zionism. Translating novels for Israelis lacks a clear theory of action to help deliver that goal.

By Ahmed Moor June 2, 2026

Sally Rooney. (Kalpesh Lathigra)

We’re publishing Sally Rooney in Hebrew, in line with BDS. Here’s how and why

After the Irish author declined an Israeli deal for a recent novel, we saw a chance to help strengthen the boycott movement — and clarify its aims.

By Haggai Matar May 19, 2026

Latest

Palestine solidarity protestors take to the streets in Montreal, Canada to protest Israel's genocide in Gaza, October 4, 2025. (Haidi Motola/Activestills)

A ceasefire must not stall Israel’s growing isolation

Trump aims to restore Israel's legitimacy after two years of genocide. But as long as Jewish supremacy persists, so should sanctions and arms embargoes.

By Ahmed Moor October 15, 2025

Viet Thanh Nguyen broke a BDS rule. Now he is its vocal advocate

The Vietnamese-American writer reflects on his ‘mea culpa’ with Israeli publishers, the diminishing power of Israeli and U.S. propaganda, and why cultural figures must take a public stance on Palestinian rights.

By Edo Konrad and Alaa Salama December 17, 2024

Graffiti on the Israeli separation wall dividing the West Bank town of Bethlehem promotes the BDS movement, June 17, 2014. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

According to ‘Israel Hayom,’ BDS has nothing to do with the occupation

Israel’s most-read newspaper deletes crucial explanations from an Associated Press article, leaving its readers with zero understanding of why Palestinians might want the world to boycott Israel. The Associated Press published a feature article last week discussing the impact that the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement has had on the Israeli music scene as of…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man September 17, 2018

Lorde performs at Lollapalooza in 2014. (Liliane Callegari/CC BY 2.0)

This Israeli urges Lorde: Play Palestine instead

Instead of simply canceling your show in Tel Aviv, cross the checkpoints and the separation wall and do what most pop icons have yet to do: perform in the West Bank. An open letter to Lorde. Dear Lorde, You may have stumbled upon my words before. Three years ago, your art and public persona inspired…

By Yuval Ben-Ami December 24, 2017

Israeli author David Grossman receives an honorary doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalems annual convocation, June 11, 2017. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

How David Grossman got drafted into the fight against BDS

Culture Minister Miri Regev is ramping up her battle against cultural boycotts by enlisting luminaries such as David Grossman. It’s time Israeli artists who believe in democracy to stand up and be brave. By Ari Remez The annual Israeli Theater Prize ceremony, held every year in the northern city of Acre, recently took place without a hitch. This, despite…

By +972 Magazine July 28, 2017

Who is afraid of BDS?

This piece is co-written with Max Blumenthal The day after the American pop star Macy Gray announced controversial plans to perform in Tel Aviv in March, we sat down for a drink at Pua, a bar nestled in the heart of one of Jaffa’s most gentrified neighborhoods. When the waitress, a sociable 20-something resident of…

By Joseph Dana February 6, 2011