Pro-Palestinian organizers end Giller Prize boycott, citing successful campaign

A Pro-Palestinian aggroup that unionized collective sue against the Giller treasure thomas more than a year ago says its boycott of the literary event is over.

CanLit Responds says the group received confirmation in the form of an email from executive director Elana Rabinovitch that the Giller no longer has sponsorship ties to Scotiabank or the Azrieli Foundation.

In the email, which was shared with The Canadian Press, Rabinovitch also clarified the prize's connection to Indigo Books, noting it was only ever a promotional partner, not a sponsor.

Rabinovitch did not respond to requests for comment.

CanLit Responds, which says it represents hundreds of authors and bookworkers, launched the boycott in the fall of 2024 over the Giller sponsors' links to Israel. Several prominent Canadian authors including David Bergen, Shani Mootoo and Thea Lim joined.

Giller Prize splits with Scotiabank after year of protests

For two decades, Scotiabank was the naming sponsor of the $100,000 prize, but protests erupted in 2023 over its subsidiary's investment in an Israeli arms manufacturer and the Giller Foundation "parted ways" with the bank last year.

However, the boycott continued as CanLit Responds also demanded the prize not be linked to either Indigo or the Azrieli Foundation.

Protesters took issue with Indigo because its CEO runs a charity that provides scholarships for former Israel Defence Forces soldiers who have no family in the country.

In the email to CanLit Responds sent in January, Rabinovitch said the Giller "has never received money" from Indigo and that the book giant only showcases Giller-nominated works in their stores.

Authors drop out of Giller Prize to protest ties with Israeli defence contractor

Protesters also objected to the partnership with the Azrieli Foundation, in part for its connection to Israeli real estate company Azrieli Group, which has minority holdings in Bank Leumi. The United Nations Human Rights Office has included Bank Leumi on a list of businesses that it said were involved in activities related to settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

In a statement on its website, the Azrieli Foundation says it's a distinct entity from the Azrieli Group.

"The Azrieli Foundation is a passive minority shareholder of the Azrieli Group. As a responsible investor, based on our knowledge and information, we can confirm that the Azrieli Group's activities are entirely within Israel's internationally recognized borders," chair Naomi Azrieli says in the undated statement.

Concerns over lack of diversity and conflict of interest in Giller Prize jury

"I am particularly saddened that ongoing attempts to disparage the foundation have impacted many of the artists, creators and organizations that we have supported over the years in Canada."

The foundation's director of communications said the funding agreement ended as planned after three years.

"It was not ended because of pressure from activist groups. In fact, we remain open to new opportunities to collaborate in the future," Heather Sherman said in an email to The Canadian Press.

"The Azrieli Foundation remains deeply committed to supporting arts and culture in Canada and we are proud of our collaboration with the Giller Prize."

Rabinovitch had also said in her email to Canlit Responds that the Azrieli Foundation's contract with the Giller ended in 2025.

She added that the Giller was able to operate its foundation and prize in 2025 with "a one-time 'bridge' gift and two smaller donations from individuals and foundations who wish to remain anonymous." Those donations will allow the Giller to carry on for the 2026 prize.

Pro-Palestinian activists call for boycott against Israeli-linked businesses

In a statement Friday, CanLit Responds called their campaign "a major win for writers who refuse to accept the normalization of genocide against Palestinians," and called on the Giller to ensure its current and future sponsorships are "transparent and ethical."

CanLit Responds organizer Michael DeForge said it's up to the Giller if it's "interested in rebuilding any sense of trust with writers and readers," and that it remains to be seen whether all authors participate in the prize again.

"We imagine some authors who have boycotted might submit their works again, and others might not," he said.

Canadian writer Andre Forget said he would consider allowing his future work to be submitted, "but that will depend on how the situation develops in the meantime."

The Toronto native, who was longlisted for the Giller Prize 2022 for his debut novel In the City of Pigs, added that "this has been a painful experience for many of us."

"If trust is to be rebuilt, it won't happen overnight. What the end of the boycott means, in my understanding, is that writers will now judge for themselves whether and how to be involved with the Giller Prize, just as they did before the boycott began."

Regulatory filings from February show that Scotiabank's 1832 Asset Management has sold its remaining holdings in Israeli defence manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd.

The 2026 Giller Prize longlist will be announced in mid-September followed by the short list announcement in early October.

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