J.K. Rowling, author of the world famous Harry Potter series, will feature an anti-Semite as the villain in her upcoming book.
According to Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), the book, titled “Lethal White,” describes the antagonist, Jimmy Knight, as becoming an anti-Semite due to his hatred for Israel:
“I wouldn’t trust him if it was anything to do with Jews,” Knight’s ex-wife tells a detective. “He doesn’t like them. Israel’s the root of all evil, according to Jimmy. Zionism: I got sick of the bloody sound of the word. You’d think they’d suffered enough,” she says of Jews.
“Lethal White” is the fourth book in the Galbraith mystery series, where Rowling, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, writes about the adventures of detectives Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.
Rowling was one of 150 British artists in 2015 to sign a letter protesting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the Jerusalem Post notes. Rowling explained in 2015 why she felt that that the BDS movement was unfair even though she is opposed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies:
“I have deplored most of Mr Netanyahu’s actions in office. However, I do not believe that a cultural boycott will force Mr Netanyahu from power, nor have I ever heard of a cultural boycott ending a bloody and prolonged conflict.
“If any effects are felt from the proposed boycott, it will be by ordinary Israelis, many of whom did not vote for Mr Netanyahu. Those Israelis will be right to ask why cultural boycotts are not also being proposed against – to take random examples – North Korea and Zimbabwe, whose leaders are not generally considered paragons by the international community.”
She has also called out anti-Zionists and anti-Semites on Twitter. She has also confirmed that one of the characters in Harry Potter, Anthony Goldstein, is in fact Jewish.
However, Rowling has stated that she views Harry Potter as “a Palestinian child fighting against the hardships and evil around him,” according to the Post.
