Full Breakdown
Phil Klay Takes the Helm of PEN America as the Organization Grapples with Israel-Hamas War Divisions
By Drooid · · How we work
New Leadership Amid Ongoing Conflict
Prize-winning author and Iraq-war veteran Phil Klay has been appointed president of PEN America, the literary and free-expression nonprofit. His appointment follows the resignation of Dinaw Mengestu, who stepped down after a PEN-commissioned report highlighted “widening cultural isolation” experienced by Jewish and Israeli writers since the Israel-Hamas war began. Klay succeeds a president who served less than a year.
Background: Recent Turmoil Within PEN America
The report that prompted Mengestu’s departure was based on interviews with dozens of Jewish and Israeli writers who said they felt increasingly marginalized. Critics had previously accused PEN’s leadership of a slow response to the deaths of Palestinian writers and journalists, leading to the cancellation of the organization’s annual awards ceremony and its “World Voices” festival after numerous participants withdrew. Former CEO Suzanne Nossel left the organization amid the controversy; she has been succeeded by co-CEOs Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf and Summer Lopez.
Official Statements and Reactions
Mengestu announced his resignation on Instagram, stating that the report’s emphasis on bias against Palestinians made him doubt PEN’s ability to defend free expression equitably. In a PEN press release issued in September 2026, Klay expressed a “broad faith in cultural exchange” and emphasized the importance of sustaining dialogue that includes uncomfortable ideas. Earlier, in March 2024, he authored an Atlantic essay arguing that U.S. support for Israel’s war had become indefensible.
Implications for Free-Expression Advocacy
Klay’s leadership arrives at a moment when PEN America must balance criticism of Israeli policies with concerns from Jewish and Israeli writers about marginalization.