Jewish-Argentine Author Dropped from Spanish Literary Festival Over Israel Stance
Jewish-Argentine author Ariana Harwicz was dropped from a Spanish literary festival after pro-Palestinian activists pressured organizers over her stance on Israel.
The participation of Jewish-Argentine author Ariana Harwicz at the CULTUR.ALH International Literature Festival in Granada, Spain, was canceled at the last minute following intense pressure from pro-Palestinian student groups and activists. The groups demanded her exclusion due to her firm opposition to the cultural boycott of Israel.
In a widely shared post on X on Friday, Harwicz wrote: "This is not an international festival for art, literature, and humanities, and this is not a public university in Granada. The organizers said how much they admire my books, which are anything but propaganda. My appearance was canceled at the last minute. They succumbed to pressure from activists, they surrendered to terror. I wanted to come anyway, even if they protested, but they said it would be dangerous. This will be a festival without a dissenting opinion. A pity for the students."
Official Reaction and Controversy
Festival director Patricia Escalona confirmed to the Spanish newspaper El País that the invitation had indeed been rescinded, stating: "Harwicz's firm stance against the cultural boycott of Israel is what provoked the opposition."
According to reports, reading clubs among students at the University of Granada refused to read her books, and a pro-Palestinian faction demanded the cancellation of her arrival. Escalona explained that the event was scheduled to take place in one of the city's public squares, and fears arose that protests against her would prevent it from proceeding smoothly. Harwicz vehemently rejected the explanation, telling El País that the cancellation was a euphemism for anti-Semitism and exclusion.
"They are canceling me because I am a Jew, to turn me into an outcast," Harwicz said. "The groups applying pressure control the entire cultural field: grants, festivals, and awards. Meaning, there is no culture, there is ideological pressure."
Broader Repercussions
The incident sparked a major uproar across Spain. On Saturday, the University of Granada issued a statement distancing itself from the cancellation and placing responsibility squarely on the festival directors, emphasizing that a public institution must remain an open space for critical thought and diverse viewpoints.
The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain condemned the decision, demanding clarifications and questioning why key cultural bodies partnering with the festival, including the Granada City Council and the Cervantes Institute, remained silent. The Argentine Forum Against Antisemitism also decried the move, stating that antisemitism, even when disguised as activism, remains antisemitism.
