Novelist condemns 'intimidation' by group promoting boycott of Israel

[oberliner]

AN IRISH novelist who was targeted by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has described an open letter written to him as “outright intimidation” and said he would not be “bullied or cajoled” into responding to it.

Gerard Donovan was the subject of the letter written by IPSC cultural liaison officer Dr Raymond Deane urging him not to attend the International Writers Festival that is happening in Israel this week.

Dr Deane posted on the internet that attempts to contact the novelist had been unsuccessful, which was why he was resorting to an open letter requesting the novelist to abide by a cultural boycott of Israel.

In response, Mr Donovan accused Dr Deane of having “some nerve” in sending him an open letter. “I live on a farm with three dogs.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/novelist-condemns-intimidation-by-group-promoting-boycott-of-israel-1.519846