H EADLINES
ISRAELBRIEFS Bestselling Author Sally Rooney Won’t Allow
Israeli Press to Publish Her Book
BESTSELLING AUTHOR Sally Rooney said she
decided not to publish her latest novel with an Israeli
publishing house because she supports a boycott of
Israel, but said a non-Israeli press could still publish
the book in Hebrew, JTA reported.

Rooney, 30, confi rmed a report by the Israeli
newspaper Haaretz last month that she declined
to sell Hebrew publishing rights for her new book,
“Beautiful World, Where Are You,” to Modan
Publishing House; that company published her fi rst
two novels in Hebrew.

“It would be an honour for me to have my latest
novel translated into Hebrew and available to Hebrew-
language readers,” Rooney said in a statement. “But
for the moment, I have chosen not to sell these trans-
lation rights to an Israeli-based publishing house.”
Whether that’s possible is unclear: Th e Hebrew-
language publishing industry is centered in Israel, the
only country where Hebrew is an offi cial language.

Rooney expressed her support for the boycott,
divestment and sanctions movement in July when
she joined artists signing a letter urging an end
to international aid to Israel as well as “trade,
economic and cultural relations.”
7-Eleven to Start Opening Israeli Stores in 2022
Electra Consumer Products signed a 20-year franchise
agreement with the convenience store chain 7-Eleven
to operate the brand in Israel, Globes reported.

Electra plans to open 300-400 stores around Israel,
with the fi rst store slated to open in Tel Aviv next
year. It plans to invest $18.6 million in opening stores
throughout Israel, according to the memorandum of
understanding that both sides signed in November
2020. Although the stores are open seven days a week
worldwide, Electra said the stores will remain closed
on Shabbat.

Founded in 1927 in the United States, 7-Eleven has
77,000 stores worldwide.

Israel to Double Water Supply to Jordan
Israel formally agreed on Oct. 12 to double the
amount of fresh water it provides to neighboring
water-defi cient Jordan, Th e Times of Israel reported.

Karine Elharrar, Israel’s minister of infrastruc-
ture, energy and water resources, said the agreement
shows that Israel wants “good neighborly relations.”
Elharrar traveled to Jordan for a ceremony between
representatives to the Joint Water Committee that
manages bilateral water relations.

In July, the two countries agreed that Israel would
sell 50 million cubic meters of water annually to
Jordan. Th e water will come from the Sea of Galilee.

Bennett Announces Drive to Quadruple
Population of Golan Heights
Prime Minister Naft ali Bennett said on Oct. 11 that
the government plans to sharply increase the number
of people living in the Golan Heights, noting that
the Biden administration recognized the northern
plateau as Israeli territory.

“Th e Golan Heights is Israeli, period,” Bennett
said. Bennett, who was speaking at the Makor Rishon
Golan Conference in Haspin, said the government
will present a plan in six weeks to boost the popula-
tion that includes the construction of two new
communities. Bennett said the goal was to hit 100,000 residents,
nearly four times the current population of about
27,000. ●
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
www.jewishexponent.com Michael and Marilyn hit the road.

ASK US ABOUT OUR
COMPLIMENTARY PACKING, PLANNING
AND MOVING
SERVICES. RydalWaters.org
Newly Renovated
Apartments Model Cottages
Available to Tour!
NOW 80% SOLD!
CALL NOW TO
LEARN ABOUT OUR
CHARTER MEMBER
PERKS PACKAGE.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM RydalPark.org
To schedule a tour of our beautiful cottages and
apartment homes, please call (215)999-3619 or visit us online.

JEWISH EXPONENT
OCTOBER 21, 2021
9