An Israeli minister condemned Netflix on Wednesday for its decision to broadcast a Jordanian film depicting atrocities against Palestinians during the 1948 war that coincided with the establishment of the State of Israel.
Avigdor Lieberman, the outgoing government finance minister, also suggested halting the payment of public funds to a theater in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, that plans to show the film.
farhaDirected by Jordanian filmmaker Darin J. Sallam, it tells the story of a 14-year-old Palestinian girl whose village is attacked by Israeli forces, who are seen executing civilians.
The film will be available on the Netflix platform from this Thursday after its premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.
“It is insane that Netflix has decided to release a film whose sole purpose is to incite hatred against Israeli soldiers,” Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement.
“Lies and Slander”
He also called the decision by Jaffa’s Al Saraya Theatre, which receives state subsidies, to screen the film “unacceptable.” “Every measure at our disposal, including the denial of funding,” is necessary “to prevent this dreadful screening or similar films in the future,” Avigdor Lieberman said.
For his part, Israeli Culture Minister Chili Tropper said the film shows “lies and slander”, calling it “shameful” that the Al Saraya Theater plans to screen it.
farha It is not the first film to spark controversy about Israeli atrocities in 1948, when more than 760,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes.
Israeli director Alon Schwarz faced harsh criticism recently after making a documentary about an alleged massacre of Palestinians in Tantura, a town in northwestern what is now Israel.
Source: BFM TV
