Zack Polanski praises Sarah Helm over Palestine Action comments

Summary

Green Party leader Zack Polanski praised author Sarah Helm for speaking common sense after she defended Sally Rooney’s support for Palestine Action, Middle East Eye reports. Pro-Israel groups have urged police to investigate Helm over her post, while UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell is under pressure to distance himself from his wife’s comment, The Guardian reports. Rooney said she had been forced to pull her books from UK shelves after pledging proceeds from sales to Palestine Action, according to The Guardian.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   16 Oct 2026, 15:00 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Helm defended Rooney after her books were withdrawn from the UK market over her support for Palestine Action, and says pro-Israel groups including the Campaign Against Antisemitism have called for a police investigation into Helm.

2. The Guardian

   16 Oct 2026, 17:03 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Jonathan Powell is under pressure to distance himself from his wife Sarah Helm’s comment backing Sally Rooney’s support for Palestine Action.

3. Middle East Eye

   17 Oct 2026, 10:32 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Helm remained defiant after pro-Israel groups urged a police investigation, and that Green Party leader Zack Polanski praised her comments as common sense.