PEN America Faces Internal Conflict Over Free Expression Article

On July 11, 2026, PEN America, a free-speech organization, published an article discussing the feelings of isolation and exclusion experienced by many Israeli and Jewish writers since October 7, 2023. The article described instances of blacklisting at publishing houses and online harassment, which prompted PEN America's president, Dinaw Mengestu, to resign within hours of its publication. Mengestu expressed concern that the article could threaten the rights of pro-Palestinian activists, arguing that it could fuel legislation against the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement. Current and former PEN staff characterized his stance as partisan, suggesting it undermined the organization's mission to defend free expression for all writers. The article, which took a year to produce, included testimonials and anecdotal evidence of the challenges faced by Israeli authors but did not draw definitive conclusions about the causes of these experiences. It acknowledged the difficulties faced by Palestinian writers as well. The internal conflict at PEN America reflects broader tensions within the organization regarding its stance on Israel and Palestine, particularly following protests and demands for a more vocal opposition to Israel in 2024. The decision to publish the article was seen by some as an act of courage, while others viewed it as a potential setback for the organization's future.