Novelist JM Coetzee declines to attend Jerusalem writers festival over ‘genocidal campaign in Gaza’

AI Summary

Novelist JM Coetzee has announced that he will not attend the Jerusalem International Writers Festival, citing concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza, which he describes as a 'genocidal campaign.' In his letter, he expressed disappointment with the Israeli society's support for the military actions, suggesting collective responsibility for the situation in Gaza.

Novelist JM Coetzee declines to attend Jerusalem writers festival over ‘genocidal campaign in Gaza’ South African writer JM Coetzee has declined to attend a prominent Jerusalem literary festival over Israel's "genocidal campaign in Gaza." The Nobel laureate, who said he previously considered himself a supporter of Israel, addressed a letter to the Jerusalem International Writers Festival artistic director, Julia Fermentto-Tzaisler, in November, as seen by the Guardian, in which he outlined his reasons for not attending the May event. “For the past two years the state of Israel has been conducting a genocidal campaign in Gaza that has been vastly disproportionate to the murderous provocation of 7 October 2023,” he wrote. “This campaign, conducted by the [Israeli army], appears to have had the enthusiastic support of the vast majority of Israel’s population. "For this reason it is not possible for any considerable sector of Israeli society, including its intellectual and arts community, to claim that it should not share in the blame for the atrocities in Gaza.” Read more: Novelist JM Coetzee declines to attend Jerusalem writers festival over ‘genocidal campaign in Gaza’ South African novelist JM Coetzee attends a ceremony where he was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa of the VUB Vrije Universiteit Brussel on 13 October, 2025 (AFP/Marius Burgelman)