PEN Pinter Prize’s Blavatnik Funding Sparks Ethical Outcry Over Israel Ties
The PEN Pinter Prize, a prestigious literary award, is funded by the Blavatnik Family Foundation—a charity with deep financial ties to the Israeli military and pro-Israel advocacy groups. New scrutiny reveals how the foundation’s donations support institutions linked to the occupation of Palestinian territories. Critics argue that PEN’s acceptance of this funding raises serious ethical questions about its commitment to human rights and free expression.
The Blavatnik Family Foundation, established by billionaire Len Blavatnik, has directed millions to organisations backing Israel's military and settlement activities. In 2024 alone, it gave $350,000 to Friends of the IDF, a group that funds Israeli soldiers. A further $1 million was pledged to Tel Aviv University students serving in the military. Since 2014, the foundation has poured $65 million into the university, which critics describe as a key research hub for Israel's defence industry.
Blavatnik also sits on the board of Tel Aviv University’s governors, reinforcing its ties to military development. His company, Clal Industries, operates solar and construction projects in the occupied West Bank, profiting from the occupation. The foundation further funds Imagination Productions, a media group producing pro-Israel films and social media campaigns aimed at silencing opposition to Israeli policies. The Pinter Prize, named after playwright Harold Pinter, was created to honour writers who defend free speech. While Pinter himself never took a firm stance on Palestine, he co-founded a group opposing unconditional support for Israel. Now, PEN’s reliance on Blavatnik’s money places it in direct conflict with its stated values.
PEN’s financial ties to the Blavatnik foundation create a clear contradiction between its mission and its funding sources. Without addressing this conflict, the organisation risks undermining its own credibility in advocating for human rights. The situation also highlights broader concerns about how cultural institutions navigate ethical dilemmas when accepting money from politically active donors.
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