JK Rowling has said she knows that Harry Potter would be “disappointed” in her decision not to support a cultural boycott of Israel, but has dismissed comparisons between the country to the ‘Death Eaters’ in her books.
The author published the lengthly post on Twitlonger after it was claimed she was a “zionist” for signing Culture for Coexistence’s plea not to boycott Israeli products.
Some fans tweeted that their childhood was “ruined” after hearing the news, with some comparing her to Potter's archenemy in the series, Voldemort.
Rowling said in the post that she appreciated “talking wouldn’t stop the Wizarding War’ and that “Boycotting Israel on every possible front has its allure" but argued cutting off the cultural and academic community entirely would even silence those critical of Israel’s government.
She admits that although the Harry Potter of the first six and a half books would not understand her stance it did not necessarily invalidate it.
“Among the messages drawing parallels between the Potter books and Israel have been quite a few saying that 'Harry would be disappointed' or 'Harry wouldn't understand' my position,” she writes.
“Those people are right, but only up to a clearly defined point. The Harry of six and a half books might not understand.
“Harry is reckless and angry for a considerable portion of those six and a half books, and he has my whole-hearted sympathy,” says Rowling, who goes on to suggest that by the end of the seven-book franchise he would have a greater understanding of her argument.
“The Palestinian community has suffered untold injustice and brutality. I want to see the Israeli government held to account for that injustice and brutality,” she writes.
But she adds that there “are voices I’d like to hear amplified, not silenced” and a cultural boycott would “place immovable barriers between [artists who] work side-by-side for peace.”
