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‘The Color Purple’ Author Claims She Won’t Allow Translation of Book into Hebrew Because of Israel‘s ’Apartheid’

The Color Purple Author Alice Walker Claims She Wont Allow Israeli Publisher to Translate Book to HebrewThis story has been updated to incorporate new statement from Yediot Books (See italics below).

Was this move anti-Semitic or just merely anti-Israel? Many critics of Israel contend the two motivations are different. Continue reading and decide.

Alice Walker, author of the Pulitzer-prize winning novel “The Color Purple,” says she is refusing to allow an Israeli publisher to release her book in Hebrew, because she believes Israel is an “apartheid” state. In a letter she wrote to the Israeli publisher Yediot Books and posted Sunday on the website “Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel,” Walker leveled strident accusations, characterizing Israeli policies as being “far worse” than the U.S. before civil rights. She wrote:

As you may know, last Fall in South Africa the Russell Tribunal on Palestine met and determined that Israel is guilty of apartheid and persecution of the Palestinian people, both inside Israel and also in the Occupied Territories.  The testimony we heard, both from Israelis and Palestinians (I was a jurist) was devastating.  I grew up under American apartheid and this was far worse.  Indeed, many South Africans who attended, including Desmond Tutu, felt the Israeli version of these crimes is worse even than  what they suffered under the white supremacist regimes that dominated South Africa for so long.

It is my hope that the non-violent BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, of which I am part, will have enough of an impact on Israeli civilian society to change the situation.

Adding a strange twist to the story, The Blaze spoke to a staffer in the production department of Yediot Books in Tel Aviv who said the publishing house had no plans to translate the book, and no earlier versions of the book appear in its catalogue. According to the newspaper Globes, the book was translated into Hebrew in 1984. The catalogue of the Israeli book website “Simania” writes the Ladori Publishing house released the book previously in Hebrew. “The Color Purple” was adapted for the big screen in 1985 in a film directed by Steven Spielberg starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.

UPDATE: A day after we ran this story, a spokeswoman for Yediot Books updated the company’s public position and told The Blaze that the publishing house did wish to release Walker’s book in Hebrew. It issued a statement that the AP reported:

The Color Purple Author Alice Walker Claims She Wont Allow Israeli Publisher to Translate Book to Hebrew

The Color Purple book cover in Hebrew

The chief editor of Yediot Books, Netta Gurevich, said in a statement Wednesday she regretted Walker’s decision to bar the release of a new Hebrew-language edition of her book, a tale about black women’s struggle against their miserable status in the American South in the 1930s.

The arts, and literature in particular, “are so important to bridging differences, presenting ‘the other’ and generating a climate of tolerance and compassion,” Gurevich said. “That‘s all the more so when talking about ’The Color Purple,’ a book that addresses discrimination, otherness and the importance of the individual’s struggle against injustice in general.”

Gurevich said Walker is not the first author to refuse to have works published in Israel.

What the venerated author artfully omits from her letter are examples of civil rights afforded to Israel’s Arab citizens, both Christians and Muslims. Earlier this month, the Israeli foreign ministry tapped Naim Araidi, a Druze Arab professor, and George Deek, a Christian Arab as its ambassador and deputy ambassador to Norway, both of them of Arab ethnicity. Upon his appointment, Araidi said:

“It would be a great privilege for me to represent Israel and show its beautiful side, as well as the coexistence that despite all the hardships can only be maintained in a true democracy.”

Walker also cites the Russell Tribunal in her letter, an anti-Israel fest that took place in South Africa in November under the guise of human rights promotion. Israeli Professor Gerald Steinberg, who documents the anti-Israel activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said the so-called tribunal “correctly is definitely a kangaroo court – [characterized by] distortion and misinformation.”

Those supporting a boycott of Israel would presumably want to recruit like-minded activists, winning the proverbial hearts and minds; therefore, why would Alice Walker not wish to spread her ideas in as many languages as possible? Apparently, not all languages are created equal.

If Walker truly wanted to change Israel, wouldn’t she want to communicate with its people? Even she writes in her letter:

Which is to say, I would so like knowing my books are read by the people of your country, especially by the young, and by  the brave Israeli activists (Jewish and Palestinian) for justice and peace I have had the joy of working beside.  I am hopeful that one day, maybe soon, this may happen.  But now is not the time.

We must continue to work on the issue, and to wait.

Is Walker’s translation boycott posture creating a group of second-class readers, the nearly 8 million Israelis plus Jewish Hebrew speakers overseas apparently not worthy of accessing her award-winning prose? Is this a sort of apartheid in and of itself?

This is not the first time Walker has been politically outspoken or the first time she’s written an open letter.

She had planned to sail with the 2011 Gaza flotilla aboard a boat named after President Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope” aiming to break through Israel’s blockade of Gaza whose purpose is to keep weapons out of the hands of terror groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.  Due to technical difficulties, the flotilla never sailed to Gaza.

In 2008, she published pieces in support of Barack Obama’s candidacy and wrote him an open letter advising him, “you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life.” In that letter she also revealed her outlook on geopolitical conflicts, writing: “We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise.”

Setting aside her morally equivalent take on international relations, perhaps one way to release “confused adversaries” from their confusion would be to communicate in their language. For Ms. Walker, apparently not if that language is Hebrew.

(H/T: JTA)

Comments (143)

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  • Americanbeliever
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:54am

    Just another black bigot who knows nothing about America. The last 3 years have opened my eyes to all the lies and propaganda of the progressives and communists that have been spewed into every corner of our lives. I am awake and done with all their BS.

    Report Post »  
    • GrayPanther
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:41am

      Excellent Americanbeliever! The more Americans start thinking and questioning what is going on the more resistance to America becoming a nation of sheep. And I was reminded of the “awards” that go to liberal and progressive favored persons. Obama’s “Nobel Peace Prize” and Al Gores show just how out of touch virtue and reality are in today’s political world. Welcome aboard “Americanbeliever”.

      Report Post » GrayPanther  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:52am

      Exactly..another black racist.

      Report Post »  
    • klammey
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:57am

      Same here, Americanbeliever! It’s amazing what you will see and hear when you take your head out of the sand and pay attention instead of relying on someone else to do it for you.

      Report Post »  
    • atlblackops
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:11am

      What in her comments demonstrates she knows “nothing about America”? Please enlighten us.

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:22am

      Another Jew hating black, nothing new here…… She’s probably a Farakhan follower…….

      Report Post »  
    • SocialistSlayer
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:35am

      Hey AltBlackOOPS,

      How much is Acorn paying you ? Your comments are serving no purpose and you are coming across as defending a Racist – Guess what that makes you?

      Report Post » SocialistSlayer  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:25pm

      ATLBLACKOPS..she knows nothing about America because she berates the only firm ally and friend we have in that region. Oh let me guess…you applauded when Nancy Pelosi put on a headscarf and visit Assad in Syria to foster “good relations”? Or when Obama set up an embassy in Damascus? How’d that work out champ?
      Oh I know..you’re one of those “arab spring” idiots aren’t you? You thought it was one big romantic peoples‘ revolution didn’t you champ? Isn’t that how your media mouthpieces sold it to you? How’d that work out for you champ?
      By the way…take a trip through South Africa outside of Jo-burg or Cape Town since Apartheid was lifted and see how much things have improved there for “your people”..not very much.

      Report Post »  
    • Sparky101
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:57pm

      More proof, haters will hate. Hurt people, hurt people. Know Jesus, know peace. Lost souls are lost.

      Report Post »  
    • RabidPatriot
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:19pm

      Israel lives in a constant state of self defense against organized terrorism. All of these groups are hate groups hell bent on the destruction of Israel. Ever vigilant against these homicidal maniacs, I’m sure reading The Color Purple never came up before the author brought it up as if anyone cared.

      Report Post » RabidPatriot  
    • HoneyBager7x7
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:21pm

      lol, this is actually news. the Color purple in Hebrew hahaha.

      Report Post » HoneyBager7x7  
    • Ars21689
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:29pm

      Don’t pay any attention to Atlblackops, I’m surprised he took a break from pleasuring himself to pictures of Zimmerman in handcuffs to leave a comment.

      If the dumb broad really wanted to punish Israel, she’d allow the book to be translated.

      Report Post »  
    • DisgruntledInClinton
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:57pm

      “The Color Purple” wasn’t that good. I read it because it won or she won an award, but I found it rather pedantic and very preachy about blacks.

      Report Post »  
    • DisgruntledInClinton
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:25pm

      Want to get really depressed about the moral decay, especially the entitlement blacks? Watch “Hard Core Pawn” on the History Channel, I think.

      Report Post »  
    • Ari Ben TZion
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:59pm

      Kunta Kinte, I mean Alice Walker can shove her book up her tukhes.

      Report Post » Ari Ben TZion  
    • Ari Ben TZion
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:06pm

      I think it ****** god off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.

      - Alice Walker

      Report Post » Ari Ben TZion  
    • Ari Ben TZion
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:10pm

      The trouble with our people is as soon as they got out of slavery they didn’t want to give the white man nothing else. But the fact is, you got to give em something. Either your money, your land, your woman or your ass.

      -Alice Walker

      Report Post » Ari Ben TZion  
    • Ari Ben TZion
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:17pm

      On at least two occasions, Walker has visited the convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison, describing him as “just beautiful. He is a beautiful person. He is intelligent. He is compassionate. He has a lot of light. He reminds me of Nelson Mandela.“ ”I don’t have any doubt that Mumia was framed,” says Walker. “None. In fact, what I think happened is that he was actually trying to help Faulkner [the policeman who was murdered].”

      Report Post » Ari Ben TZion  
  • EP46
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:52am

    She just found a way to try and sell her book. Pimping the race card again.

    Report Post »  
    • atlblackops
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:12am

      That’s kind of stupid to say; if she wanted to sell her book, she would have given them access. Furthermore, I don’t know where you are from in America, but her book needs no help in selling. Just google the name “color purple”.

      Report Post »  
    • MrObvious
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:16pm

      So, lets see if we have this correctly. She (and a bunch of other ignorant libs) think that Israel is engaging in apartheid; because, they refuse to trust a group of people, in which about 90% or so, actually want to do some kind of harm to Israelis.

      That’s like thinking white people are racists; because, they don’t want to be on MLK street after dark. Never mind the high black on white crime rates in those areas (Nearly every MLK in nearly every city in the US, look it up).

      It‘s not apartheid when it’s self defense.
      South Africa was not acting, at least primarily, in self defense, but out of racism.

      In Gaza, Hamas controls everything, after having violently ejected Fatah, after Israel tried to give the Palestinians that chunk of land.

      There is no way they will make that same mistake in the West Bank.

      Meanwhile, real apartheid is going on, against Christians, in Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Indonesia, Albania, and lots of other places, she didn’t mention.

      Report Post »  
  • lynnissmart
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:43am

    And I wondered why I never watched the movie…..now I know……must have been a gut feeling……another pos seeking negative attention….way to go!

    Report Post »  
    • smokeysmoke
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:00am

      is alice walker a racist or just stupid…

      Report Post » smokeysmoke  
    • michael48
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:01am

      smoke…yes…

      Report Post »  
    • atlblackops
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:13am

      That “gut feeling” is called “self imposed ignorance”.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:18pm

      The only ignorance on display here ATLBLACKOPS has been yours.

      Report Post »  
    • nlpeabody
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:18pm

      Wish I had never watched the movie or put it as my favorite. Now it makes me sick just hearing the title. Barack Obama has sure opened our eyes to the sick people that we use to admire and now see as disgusting. We have made all these people rich as celebrities and now they think they so much have the power over us. God loves Israel and the Palestine are nothing but terrorist begetting terrorists. Actually there is no such entity as a palestine. They are arabs.

      Report Post » nlpeabody  
  • PeachyinGA
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:42am

    The key part of the story is that the publisher never asked her to translate it into Hebrew. She made the whole thing up just to grandstand “Cynthia McKinney-style” on her Jew-hating views. The majority of Jews that wanted to read Ms. Walkers piece of “literature” could simply pick up an English copy if they were that hard up on reading material.

    Report Post » PeachyinGA  
  • ginger100
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:41am

    Oh geez, another one who came to this country in shackles

    Report Post » ginger100  
  • ourig
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:35am

    i will not buy your book if it is the the last book in the world …you are a moron

    Report Post » ourig  
    • atlblackops
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:03am

      Yeah, I‘m sure she’s devastated that there are people like you that actually have not seen or read her book. Conservative talk radio is far more informative for you, apparently. Education and enlightenment sucks for some people.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:10pm

      ATLBLACKOPS..her book is a work of fiction..much like your posts.

      Report Post »  
    • USSPUFFERSSN652
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:36am

      atl, unless you listen to conservative talk radio, you don’t know what you are talking about. Of course lack of knowledge has never silenced a liberal before.

      Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:34am

    Isn‘t it odd how those who once were discriminated against think it’s OK to do the same thing to others they disagree with? First off, Israel doesn’t discriminate against anyone. They have bent over backwards to get along, but it has been their homeland before any of the people who are claiming it now. The evil people who call it that name are fools and tools, and have no clue what they are talking about. Never read the book, or saw the movie, just not interested, and I am sure most Israelies could care less, she is just making a big flashy statement of “look, how wonderfull I am”. Guess what honey, I don’t give a fig.

    Report Post »  
  • biffo
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:33am

    Another black racist being racist… Wow. If it weren’t for all the self hating Jewish ********, and the rest of the ******** this black racist would be on the dole shrieking that it‘s whitey’s fault. Thank God obama‘s destruction of the ’poor black’ myth will allow society to leave this vapid, empty headed, black racist on the crap heap of history wear she belongs.

    Report Post »  
  • T-2
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:30am

    I remember we had to watch that movie…it was a great nap.

    Report Post »  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:55am

      Only line in the movie that I remember is “Yo sho is Uuuuggggllyyyyy” and Whoopie Goldberg looking the part.

      Report Post » PeachyinGA  
  • joshcomm
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:27am

    Miss Alice is one goofy woman, based upon her thinking and explanation. She should have kept her mouth shut and go back to her “American Apartheid.” She is actually doing Israel a favor by not printing her book there. This will save them a lot of money and time. Her written trash won’t influence this intelligent audience.

    Report Post » joshcomm  
    • atlblackops
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:15am

      Israel and millions upon millions of others, disgree with you. Shocker.

      Report Post »  
  • cjherin
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:27am

    Alice Walker’s daughter Rebecca wrote a excellent piece in the Daily Mail in 2008 describing how her own mother loathed motherhood and considered it a form of servitude:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1021293/How-mothers-fanatical-feminist-views-tore-apart-daughter-The-Color-Purple-author.html

    Interestingly, Rebecca notes that her father – Alice Walker’s ex-husband- was a white Jewish lawyer from New York whose family fled the Holocaust in Europe.

    Report Post » cjherin  
    • T-2
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:37am

      thanks for posting the article.

      Report Post »  
  • capnjack
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:25am

    The Hebrew black market books are already on the street. All you have done is deny yourself the royalties. Boycotts always backfire.

    Report Post » capnjack  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:22am

    Really?!?!??! I guess she doesn‘t realize that in Israel live both Arab and Jewish Israeli’s, maybe she should actually spend some time doing her own research and see the Palestinians are living it up with their mega-mall and all their other benefits, their whole down-trodden blight is a made up fantasy, they only have themselves to blame for Arrafat and other squandering the BILLIONS in aid given to them, where did it all go?!?!? Ask the PLO leaders living it up in the lap of luxury.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • LANE131
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:16am

    She grew up with apartheid in American? No that is not true, from her age and looks i judge that she grew up in a time when America was most free, even though it is in a bit of a delince today.
    American not only the BEST country and the most free country EVER for black people, but for people of all races.
    She is Liberal RACIST, yes black people can be racist, i know they lie to them selfs and claim they can not be racist, people of any race who think this liberal progessive way are just lazy and blind and do not see the good that American has been for the world, and Israel even being under attack all these years has done more good in health, farming, science, ect then all the Muslim countrys put together for the last 1000 years. Israel brings good stuff to this world and rights for all humans, just ask a Arab who lives in Israel, there are many, just ask a black person living in Israel their are many.
    American the UK and Israel still a force for good for people, builders and givers.
    Progressives, Black Power groups and muslims are a force of bad and evil, NOT builders, people who tear down, destroy, takers.

    Report Post »  
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:08am

    You see Virginia, there turly is an Alice in Wonderland …..

    Report Post » TwoLazy  
  • BlazeGlory
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:08am

    To be honest with you it would have done me no harm at all if it had never been published in English.

    Report Post » BlazeGlory  
  • 123456beatriz
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:08am

    Idiot!

    Report Post »  
  • Vanguard17
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:08am

    “I grew up under American apartheid”

    People who preach this nonsense don’t deserve the dignity of the our attention.

    Report Post » Vanguard17  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:14am

      They don’t “deserve” to live in America, either, but the good LORD GOD has allowed them HIS manifold blessings, just like HE has us. Difference is, I guess, we recognize that.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 9:03am

      She’s probably made a good living spewing this nonsense. Al and Jess have.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • term limits for congress
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:02am

    Alice has been hitting the choom pipe too hard.

    Report Post »  
  • HowardSternIsABigot
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:02am

    Is this the same piece of crap that starred Okra Winfree? Poor jews probably cant even get a copy of Okras acting career. Oh the humanity, oh the humanity, how can Israel survive without this bad book?

    Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:02am

    Who cares?

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:51am

    Some people choose to remain lost.

    LORD GOD, for those of YOUR children who are yet blind and deaf, we pray YOUR removal of the veil over their eyes, ears and hearts so that they will know YOU while there is yet time. How our world could turn around for YOU if we would take our eyes off this world and set them on YOU. We pray this in JESUS’ SWEET AND MIGHTY NAME, amen.

    Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:48am

    Hate has become fashionable again with the international Left. From bankers, to Wall Street, to CEOs, to capitalism, to the Catholic Church, to Christianity, to conservatives, to ” the rich.” Yes, folks, it’s Open Season . You go, Lefties. This is so like pre-WWI and II. Anarchy and hate rule the day. Can only guess what this way comes…..

    Report Post »  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:48am

    She got lucky with her book, otherwise she is just another racist! Throw a white hood and bed sheet on her and she’d fit in with the KKK!

    Report Post » historyguy48  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:44am

    Oh no, can Israel survive without her book?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • atlblackops
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:18am

      Israel has no culture, so they are hungry for the crumbs of others. Israel is barren, void of any real contributions to society. To survive, all they need is a stockpile of nuclear weapons, and a Nation to bankroll their welfare-state of existence.

      Israel is a parasitic entity, incapable of sustaining it’s own existence. You would think conservatives would be outraged by the billions we throw away every year, getting nothing in return…from Israel.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:14pm

      ‘Israel has no culture’ That statement alone pretty much defines you as an idiot.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Stone Cold Truth
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:36pm

      Ok, now it’s just obvious. We have a NAZI in the house people. How can you say Israel has no culture? That’s stupid. Read the Holy Bible sometime. Palestine has no culture because it never existed before Israel. There were phillistines, but no palestineans. Why do progressives always hate on Israel, yet defend tyrannical regimes like Iran, Russia , and Syria? You’re a hypocritical hater/ stereotype pusher and nothing more.

      Report Post » Stone Cold Truth  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:17pm

      Let me get this right ATLBLACKOPS…”Israel is a barren, void of any real contributions to society”. So all those arabs that go to Israel for work are what? Misguided? Israel is the only successful liberal democracy in the region. In 60 years it’s become a thriving and dynamic nation surrounded by dictatorships, theocracies and enemies and despite the best efforts of these hostiles, Israel thrives.
      Go peddle your buffoonery at Media Matters where it’s appreciated.

      Report Post »  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:19pm

      Looks like Whoopi. Maybe a stunt double?

      Report Post » dmerwin  
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