Israeli Authors Facing Boycotts at 2026 Book Fair

Three years after the Hamas attack on Israel, literature from Hebrew-speaking authors is finding it difficult to gain international traction. The Frankfurt Book Fair in 2026 falls close to the anniversary of the October 7th events, a period marked by significant literary output concerning the conflict.

The Israeli National Library has cataloged 2,100 titles published worldwide since October 7, 2023. Israel alone saw approximately 500 new releases in 2025, spanning all genres from children's books to biographies and novels.

The German literary scene is also addressing the events of October 7th. Dana Vowinckel's novel "Anton und Alma," which explores a contemporary love story dramatically impacted by the attacks, is a contender for the German Book Prize.

The "Jewish Nine-Eleven"

Maxim Biller's new novel, "Schwarze Samstage," refers to the day as the "Jewish Nine-Eleven." The story follows a man who, confronted by the Hamas attack and the Gaza war, reflects on his own Jewish identity and the 3,500-year history of antisemitism.

Both novels offer powerful narrative explorations of antisemitism, the Holocaust, the Middle East conflict, and contemporary discussions surrounding these issues.

The impact of October 7th and its aftermath extends beyond the creation of books, significantly affecting the literary world.

A July report by PEN America highlighted concerns within the Israeli publishing and Jewish literary communities. Some Israeli authors were advised by their publishers to remove Jewish characters or references to Israel from their manuscripts to improve international sales prospects. Literary agents reportedly struggle to find international publishers for Hebrew books, especially in the US.

The US is a crucial gateway for books entering international markets. One Hebrew translator noted that none of the twenty to thirty book projects he has been involved with have yet secured international sales.

Major Names Translated, Younger Voices Ignored

Non-fiction and eyewitness accounts from the Gaza war continue to be translated globally. However, emerging literary voices in Hebrew face significant hurdles in the US and elsewhere. While established Israeli authors like David Grossman, a perennial Nobel Prize contender, still see their works translated, their younger counterparts are not.

The German publishing landscape appears somewhat more open, according to Israeli publisher Orna Landau. Nevertheless, she has established her own agency to better promote her publishing house's books internationally.

Agencies Arrive at the Fair with Half the Previous Offerings

Orna Landau is attending the Frankfurt Book Fair to promote her titles. Deborah Harris, a Jerusalem-based agent representing authors like David Grossman, stated her team will bring half the number of titles they previously presented.

The boycott also functions in reverse. Many international authors are reportedly hesitant to be published in Israel, with few daring to do so. When asked if the PEN report had altered the situation for their authors, both Harris and Landau indicated no significant change, though Landau suggested it might slightly increase scheduled appointments at the fair.

Which voices are heard, and which stories are overlooked? Last year, a protest camp on the "Palestinian Liberatory Book Fair" outside the main entrance of the Frankfurt Book Fair hosted readings and discussions aiming to break the "suffocating silence" surrounding Palestinian suffering.

The Israeli publishing sector will be represented at the 2026 Book Fair by the non-profit "Israeli Institute for Hebrew Literature" (ITHL), with its stand located in Hall 3, alongside this year's guest of honor, the Czech Republic. Last year, the ITHL stand focused on authors and their books; this year, it will showcase publishers of Hebrew-language literature.

Is Calling It a "Genocide" Antisemitic?

Following the PEN report on the challenges faced by Israeli publishers, PEN America President Dinaw Mengestu resigned in protest. Mengestu argued that the report did not adequately recognize boycotts as a form of political expression but rather as suppression. This stance appears paradoxical given the report's aims and reflects the tense climate and debates surrounding perceived censorship.

Disputes often center on specific terminology. Is labeling the Netanyahu government's actions against the Palestinian population as "genocide" antisemitic? While serious international law experts debate the term's legitimacy, it is also used by protesters.

Dispute Over Terms

Recently, a brief controversy arose regarding the inclusion of literary scholar Maha El Hissy on this year's German Book Prize jury. El Hissy had been accused of using terms like "settler colonialism" and referring to the Gaza events as "genocide" in articles about Palestinian literature. The Association of German Publishers and Booksellers, which awards the prize, upheld El Hissy's appointment, affirming her professional qualifications.

When language and terms are debated, and distinctions and ambivalences are explored, literature has a voice, yet it increasingly becomes a subject of contention itself. Palestinian author Adania Shibli, based in Berlin, is releasing a new novel, "Täuschung" (Deception), in 2026. The book recounts the story of a man and woman in the occupied Palestinian territories during the 1980s and 1990s, depicting a challenging narrative of self-assertion, including linguistic resistance.

Hope for an End to the Netanyahu Government

In 2023, days after October 7th, the awarding of Shibli's previous book, "Eine Nebensache" (A Minor Detail), the LiBeraturpreis by the Litprom association was canceled. Shibli was accused of "anti-Israeli and antisemitic narratives." Instead, authors read from her novel, which retells the true story of a Bedouin woman raped and murdered by an Israeli border patrol in 1948. Among those who read from Shibli's work was her colleague, Dana Vowinckel.

Vowinckel, a Berlin-based author, is currently on a reading tour for her new novel, "Anton und Alma." She is directly experiencing audience reactions to the story. Anton is a Jewish Berliner with an American father, while Alma is from the eastern part of the city and is converting to Judaism. The Hamas attack significantly impacts their lives.

Vowinckel notes that her readings focus on how the war affects the couple's relationship, rather than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict itself. "It surprises me a bit that the question of my own position on the State of Israel or Zionism isn't a major topic, although it was very central for me when writing," Vowinckel shared, having recently stated in this newspaper that "it can no longer be denied with reason and sense that genocide is happening in Gaza." However, she appreciates that discussions remain close to the text. "I believe this is also because the novel refrains from taking a definitive stance, at least that is my hope."

"The Despair Over the World Situation"

Before the release of "Anton und Alma," Dana Vowinckel expressed concerns about its reception. Now, she reports experiencing "great goodwill" and "a desire for understanding." She adds, "I am glad that my own despair over the world situation is perhaps conveyed in some way."

David Grossman's new novel, slated for German release in 2027 under the title "Wörter, wo seid ihr?" (Words, where are you?), is a family saga and does not explicitly address the war. "I don't know an author in Israel who isn't protesting against this government," says his agent, Deborah Harris. Both she and her colleague Orna Landau observe a sense of paralysis, a struggle for the right words in the current climate, or an unconscious stylistic shift driven by market demands.

"Many," says Deborah Harris, "are now also writing for television and film." The global success of the Israeli intelligence series "Fauda" (Netflix), whose fifth season covers October 7th, stands out as an exception to the boycott. This may indicate a significant audience demand for such narratives worldwide.

Unfortunately, says Orna Landau, literature plays a less prominent role in today's polarized Israel. An open letter from authors no longer carries the same weight as it did twenty to thirty years ago, which might explain the absence of a collective outcry.

Both Landau and Harris place their hopes on the Israeli elections on October 27th and a potential end to the Netanyahu government. They believe the election outcome could also influence the situation for literature.