Sally Rooney to fund Palestine Action from book and BBC proceeds

Sally Rooney has reiterated her intention to fund Palestine Action, the British pro-Palestinian direct-action group banned as a terrorist organisation, using the proceeds from her books and from BBC adaptations. In a personal column, the author said she will continue to support the group and its aims “in whatever way I can,” arguing that the government’s decision to proscribe the organisation threatens free expression and cultural life in the UK. The stance comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the ban, describing Palestine Action as more than “a regular protest group known for occasional stunts,” and as authorities Point to arrests and alleged preparations for further attacks linked to the group.

Rooney’s statement, published in The Irish Times, marks a new phase in a long-standing row over the group’s tactics and the boundaries of protest. The novelist, whose works include Normal People and Conversations with Friends, has previously faced criticism for supporting Palestine Action. In her latest piece she emphasizes that she intends to channel the earnings from her writing — including residuals from BBC co-productions — toward continuing support for the group and for...