The Israeli film industry is facing a growing international boycott, fueled by accusations of complicity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nearly 4,000 individuals, including prominent Hollywood figures, have signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions, citing concerns about alleged genocide and apartheid. However, Israeli industry leaders vehemently disagree, arguing that the boycott is counterproductive and harms those within the country most critical of the government's actions.
Nadav Ben Simon, chairman of the Israeli screenwriters’ guild, emphasizes that Israeli artists have consistently strived to depict the complexities of their reality, often showcasing the Palestinian perspective. He contends that a boycott only silences these voices and strengthens the hand of those who wish to suppress dissent. This sentiment is echoed by Merav Etrog Bar and Lior Elefant, representing the Directors Guild of Israel and Israel’s Documentary Forum, respectively. They highlight the numerous Israeli films that have sensitively and critically addressed the Palestinian crisis, demonstrating a commitment to fair representation.
Tzvi Gottlieb, CEO of the Israeli Film & TV Producers Association, points out the irony of targeting an industry already actively critical of the government. He argues that the boycott disproportionately impacts a sector working to expose the negative consequences of the occupation and promotes anti-violence messages. He further notes that the boycott unfairly singles out Israel, contrasting it with a lack of similar action against other countries with significant human rights concerns, such as Russia and China.
The boycott focuses on institutions receiving government support. Gottlieb stresses that, similar to many countries, government funding in Israel often supports art critical of the government itself. This makes the boycott, in their view, a self-defeating strategy, inadvertently silencing those who are already fighting for change from within.
Liat Benasuly, a producer on Netflix’s *Fauda* and board member of the Israeli Film & TV Producers Association, expresses deep frustration with the boycott. A self-described leftist strongly opposed to the current Israeli government, she sees the boycott as a tool that inadvertently empowers the very government it seeks to oppose. It silences the voices of those already working to change the situation, she argues, and plays directly into the hands of those who prefer silence over critical discussion. The boycott, ultimately, is seen by many within the Israeli film industry not as a tool for progress, but as a detrimental blow to a sector already striving to represent the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Originally published at: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/israel-film-industry-leaders-boycott-counterproductive-1236367718/
