A Palestinian city on Sunday cancelled the planned screening of a Lebanese film after activists called for a boycott over the director's "normalisation" with Israel.
"The Insult", which deals with the Lebanese civil war, was scheduled to be screened Monday in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as part of the "Days of Cinema" festival.
But Ramallah's municipality decided on Sunday to cancel the showing at a city-run facility after pressure from Palestinian activists who accused French-Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri of promoting "normalisation" with Israel.
Doueiri's 2012 film "The Attack", about an Israeli surgeon of Arab origin whose wife carries out a suicide attack, was partly filmed in Israel.
"The Attack" was banned in Lebanon and prompted authorities to detain Doueiri for questioning on his arrival in Lebanon last month.
Lebanon submitted "The Insult" as its official entry for the Oscars, in the foreign film category.
In Ramallah, activists had planned a protest against the screening and launched a social media campaign urging Palestinians to boycott it.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which campaigns for economic and cultural measures against Israel, had accused Doueiri of "defending normalisation" with Israel and called for the screening to be cancelled.
Ramallah municipality director general Ahmad Abu Laban told AFP the screening was cancelled over "our responsibility to keep the peace".
He cited "safety concerns" and said the decision did not imply that the municipality was bowing to pressure from activists.
GMT 16:15 2018 Monday ,10 December
“On the Roof of Damascus” film wins Special Jury Award at International Film Festival, TunisiaGMT 14:26 2018 Friday ,07 September
"Afac Film Week 2018" from 8 to 10 September in AlgiersGMT 10:05 2018 Friday ,19 January
Lebanon reverses ban on Spielberg's 'The Post'GMT 09:35 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Saudi Arabia to open cinemas for first time in 35 yearsGMT 09:29 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Saudi filmmakers, cinema chains eye return of silver screenGMT 00:17 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Two movie theatres allocated for Bahrain’s football fansGMT 17:22 2017 Wednesday ,13 December
Star wars: Odeon vs. VOX in battle for Saudi movie loversGMT 19:58 2017 Tuesday ,12 December
US chain AMC signs deal to build and operate movie theaters in Saudi ArabiaMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor