Israeli authorities have once again imposed censorship on a Palestinian film, this time blocking a scheduled screening of the documentary “Lyd” at the al-Saraya Theater in Jaffa. The film, produced by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, explores the depopulation of the ancient Palestinian city of Lyd (now known as Lod in Israel) in 1948, presenting a narrative where the creation of the state of Israel never occurred. Directed by Rami Younis and Sarah Ema Friedland, the documentary combines archival footage, interviews with present-day residents, and imaginative animation to depict a future without Israeli occupation.
The Minister of Culture and Sport, Miki Zohar, justified the censorship by claiming that the film portrayed a “distorted picture of reality” that could incite unrest. Zohar’s letter to the Israel Police Commissioner accused the film of making unfounded claims about the Israel Defense Forces and perpetuating a negative portrayal of Israeli actions.
The cancellation of the screening came just hours before it was set to take place, with the police citing concerns about potential far-right demonstrations. Theater director Mahmoud Abu Arisha revealed that the police threatened legal action if the screening proceeded without approval from the Israeli Film Review Board, a move that is in line with Zohar’s commitment to withhold funding from individuals or institutions that present art deemed to defame Israel.
This incident is not an isolated one, as it follows a similar case in August when Israeli authorities prevented the screening of “Jenin, Jenin 2,” a film by Palestinian filmmaker Mohamad Bakri. Rami Younis, the co-director of “Lyd,” expressed his disappointment with the ongoing targeting of Palestinian voices by Israeli authorities, citing previous instances of censorship against his work.
Sarah Ema Friedland condemned the censorship as part of a broader global trend towards authoritarianism and suppression of dissenting voices. She emphasized the importance of standing against such measures and highlighted the need to continue the fight against censorship and fascism worldwide.
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