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All the Rivers
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Wikipedia article
'All the Rivers' (Initially referred to as 'Borderlife', ( 'Gader Chaya', literally: "Hedgerow") is a 2014 novel written by Israeli author Dorit Rabinyan, published by Am Oved in May 2014.Kashti, Or. "[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.694620 Israel Bans Novel on Arab-Jewish Romance From Schools for 'Threatening Jewish Identity' ]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160127024502/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.694620 Archive]). 'Haaretz'. December 31, 2015. Retrieved on January 25, 2016. The book's English-language edition was translated by Jessica Cohen and published by Random House in the United States and by Serpent's Tail in the United Kingdom, both in 2017. It is considered a controversial book in Israel.
The novel was a winner of the Bernstein Prize for young writers, an Israeli award for Hebrew literature.
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.
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 female and a Palestinian male prisoner of terrorism who's of Muslim-Arab background. The novel topped bestseller lists[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/08/israeli-palestinian-love-story-excluded-curriculum-bestseller-gader-haya-borderlife The Guardian] once it was rejected by the Israel Education Ministry.[http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/israel-news/romance-too-hot The Jewish Week][https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-bans-teaching-borderlife-novel-jewish-arab-love-story-n488401 NBC News] The controversy led to pro-book protests from high school teachers and principals to the Knesset Opposition head, Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog. Shortly afterward the Ministry stated that the novel may be taught only in advanced literature classes.Kashti, Or. "[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.694854 Bennett Backs School Ban on Novel About Jewish-Arab Love Affair]." 'Haaretz'. December 31, 2015. Retrieved on January 25, 2016.
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. It has been criticized for its encouragement of illegal drug use. In addition, it was reported for calling the State of Israel an "Occupier", while its soldiers are compared to Hamas".
Film adaptation
In December 2019, a film adaptation of the novel was announced to be in production by Gal Gadot and Keshet International.
References
Category:Hebrew-language literature
Category:2014 novels
Category:21st-century Israeli novels
Category:Novels set during the IsraeliPalestinian conflict
Category:Literature controversies
Category:Am Oved books
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