The novel was a winner of the Bernstein Prize for young writers, an Israeli award for Hebrew literature.[1][5]
Plot
The novel, which is set in New York City, chronicles a love affair between Hilmi, a Palestinian artist, and Liat, a Jewish Israeli translator. The two eventually separate, with the man going to Ramallah and the woman going to Tel Aviv.[2]
Controversy
It became controversial in Israel after being disqualified from Israeli high school curricula for its subject matter of a love story between a Jewish-Israeli woman and a Palestinian man who's of Muslim-Arab background.[1] The novel topped bestseller lists[6] once it was rejected by the Israel Education Ministry.[1][7][8] The controversy led to pro-book protests from high school teachers and principals to the Knesset Opposition head, Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog.[9][10] Shortly afterward the Ministry stated that the novel may be taught only in advanced literature classes.[11]
Besides the objections to the plot's interreligious relationship, the book has been controversial due to representing the Israel Defense Forces troops as sadistic war criminals.[12] It has been criticized for its encouragement of illegal drug use.[13] In addition, it was reported for calling the State of Israel an "Occupier", while its soldiers are compared to Hamas".[14][12]
