Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia
US Vice President JD Vance: There is currently no security infrastructure in place to ensure the disarmament of Hamas
Israeli occupation forces said that "ceasefire in Gaza begins to be re-implemented."
Israeli media: 'Israel' to halt entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza until further notice.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One woman was killed and several children were injured as a result of Israeli bombing of displaced Gazans' tents in the Mawasi area of ​​Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted the eastern areas of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

NY book festival panel canceled following boycott of Zionist moderator

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 24 Sep 2024 09:47
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

The Zionist writer's posts on social media consisted of criticizing people she deemed as "hypocrites" who did not understand the "complexities of the conflict" after "Israel" began its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • New York book festival cancels panel over moderator's 'Zionist' views
    Writer Elisa Albert, undated. (Courtesy: Elisa Albert)

A panel was canceled at the Albany Book Festival after two writers scheduled to speak boycotted it over the moderator's "Zionist" views.

Zionist author Elisa Albert received an email from festival organizers two days before the panel.

"Not to sugarcoat this," wrote Mark Koplik, Assistant Director of the New York State Writers Institute Mark Koplik, "Aisha Gawad and Lisa Ko don't want to be on a panel with a 'Zionist.'"

In an interview with Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Albert said she was not surprised by the message.

"I started drafting a piece in the form of a letter to the two writers who wanted me removed. I wished they had reached out to me directly," Albert said.

Albert's support for 'Israel'

The writer has been vocal about her support for "Israel" amid its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Albert assumed the event was likely canceled after someone from the panel found her Instagram.

After October 7, when Palestinian Resistance group Hamas launched the Al-Aqsa Flood operation in retaliation to decades of Israeli occupation, Albert's posts consisted of criticizing people she deemed as "hypocrites" who did not understand the "complexities of the conflict."

"Here’s a handy-dandy form letter y’all can send to the brave armchair terror-apologists in your circles," she captioned a post sharing her open letter to supporters of the Resistance group.

Related News

Florida pushes bill to rename West Bank as ‘Judea and Samaria’

Georges Abdallah, from hometown, calls for Lebanese unity, resistance

The writer said she stands firmly by everything she has posted.

Albert expressed her disappointment with the institution, claiming they betrayed their aim to "increase the freedom of artistic imagination" over her views, which she sees as extreme discrimination, especially since a statement denouncing her beliefs was not issued.

Severing ties with pro-Israeli writers

The one-year mark of the Israeli genocide in Gaza is approaching and a permanent ceasefire is yet to be implemented. However, various industries have sanctioned, divested, and boycotted pro-Israeli products, services, and supporters.

This has extended to the writing industry. 

Last month, the book launch of writer Joshua Liefer was canceled after a staff member overseeing the event objected to the "Zionist" moderator.

British-Israeli translator Joanna Chen's essay was removed from Guernica magazine earlier this year due to staff pressure.

Additionally, PEN America canceled its award ceremony after writers chose to boycott the event in response to the organization's "relative silence" on the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Literary prize drops sponsor name for ties with Israeli arms firm

Earlier in September, a major Canadian literary award dropped the name of Scotiabank, its main sponsor, from its title after months of protests concerning the bank's investment in an Israeli arms manufacturer amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Despite the award's rebrand to the Giller Prize, formerly known as the Scotiabank Giller prize, the bank will remain the event's primary sponsor.

The bank's asset management subsidiary has shares in Elbit Systems, "Israel's" largest arms manufacturer, which supplies military equipment to the Israeli security ministry for its aggression in the Gaza Strip.

Demonstrators interrupted the Giller prize ceremony twice in November 2023, protesting against Scotiabank and Elbit Systems, one month after the occupation began its daily bombardment of Gaza. Over 2,000 writers and publishers signed an open letter urging for charges to be dropped against the protesters.

Sarah Bernstein, the prize's 2023 winner, withdrew from a Giller Book Club appearance after organizers informed her that audience questions about the demonstration or Gaza could be edited out.

Over 30 authors eligible for the award withdrew their work from consideration, signing a statement in July. 

  • war on Gaza
  • Israel
  • Boycott Israel
  • Zionism
  • New York
  • USA
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, killing seven Palestinians.

Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, kills seven Palestinians

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK blocks release of documents on secretive Lammy-Sa’ar meeting.
Politics

UK blocks release of documents on secret Lammy-Sa’ar meeting

Colombia slams Trump’s drug accusation, defends sovereignty
Politics

Colombia slams Trump’s incendiary drug claims, defends sovereignty

The abuse was detailed in Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice." (AP)
Politics

Epstein victim recounts choking, sexual assault by 'well-known PM'

The US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand near the airport President Donald Trump uses in Florida. (US Secret Service)
Politics

FBI probes hunting stand with sightline to Trump’s Air Force One exit

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS