UK Jews press BBC to cut ties with Sally Rooney over Palestine Action

The BBC faces mounting pressure to sever ties with bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney who recently said she would donate money to a pro-Palestinian organization that British authorities have categorized as terrorists.

Rooney, the controversial author of a book that was adapted to a popular movie streamed on the British public broadcaster, stunned critics last weekend by announcing she would give a percentage of proceeds from book sales to Palestine Action.

“I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can,” the 34-year-old Rooney told The Irish Times.

The defiant novelist, who lives in Ireland and has declared a boycott of Israel, said if that branded her a “supporter of terrorism” under British law, “so be it.”

Her bombshell declaration triggered fierce backlash from Jewish groups and legal experts who warned the BBC could face criminal liability for continuing to profit from her work.

Palestine Action, which was founded in 2020, has generated headlines for targeting British arms companies that conduct business with Israel.

The group’s members have engaged in blockades, occupied facilities and inflicted property damage at weapons factories and military installations.

On July 5, the UK government officially banned Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, making membership punishable by up to 14 years in prison and criminalizing any form of support including fundraising, statements or displaying associated materials.

Since the ban took effect, over 744 individuals have been arrested for showing support for the group, including a record-breaking single-day arrest of 522 people at a London Parliament Square protest on Aug. 9

The Campaign Against Antisemitism, a UK-based nonprofit, torched Rooney’s stance as “utterly indefensible” and demanded platforms cut ties immediately.

“This goes far beyond political activism — it is a deliberate statement of intent to channel money towards a group that vandalized RAF jets and terrorized the Jewish community,” the organization said.

“Platforms and publishers profiting from her work must urgently review their relationship with her, as they now risk enabling the flow of funds to a terrorist organization.”

The BBC has hosted “Normal People” on iPlayer since its 2020 launch and aired another Rooney adaptation, “Conversations with Friends,” in 2022.

The corporation scrambled to distance itself from the controversy.

“Matters relating to proscribed organizations are for the relevant authorities,” the BBC stated tersely, noting Rooney was never a staff member and what authors do with previously received money is “a matter for them.”

But several BBC insiders expressed dismay privately, with some remarking that Rooney “had form” for courting controversy, according to the UK-based Times.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the broadcaster. Netflix began streaming “Normal People” just two weeks ago, with the 12-part drama immediately cracking the platform’s top-ten UK chart.

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Downing Street fired back Monday, warning donors to Palestine Action they were committing terror offenses under the Terrorism Act.

“There’s a difference between showing support for a proscribed organization, which depends on the Terrorism Act, and legitimate protest,” a government spokesman said.

“Where activity breaks the law, then obviously the police will take action.”

Rooney has been reported to counterterrorism police, though no action is expected since Palestine Action isn’t banned in Ireland, where she made her comments.

A law enforcement official told the Times that arresting Rooney would be complicated given jurisdictional considerations.

“Ordinarily, offenses occur based on where the person is at the time,” the official told the newspaper.

“If you’re in the UK and you’re sending money to a proscribed terrorist organization then yes, it would likely be an offense.”

But legal experts told the Times that they believe Rooney could still face prosecution under UK terror finance laws that cover overseas actions.

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, argued the author along with the BBC and booksellers could have broken the law.

“By providing financial assistance to an organization which clearly intends to commit criminal damage in the UK, she is likely to be guilty under UK law for knowingly assisting the commission of criminal offenses,” Turner said.

“I think the BBC and other sellers of her books could also be liable for assisting criminal offenses by Palestine Action as well as offenses under the Terrorism Act 2000 for transferring funds that may be used for the purposes of terrorism.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper branded Palestine Action more than “a regular protest group” this past weekend, citing its “escalating campaign” of activities.

The Post has sought comment from the BBC and Rooney.