Israeli McCarthyism: New trial against Palestinian-Israeli film director 

New trial against Israeli Arab film director

Monday June 25, 2007 12:57 by Vasilena Todorova - IMEMC News

One of Israel’s most prominent actors of Palestinian origin, Mohammad Bakri, may face jail after producing a documentary on Israel’s 2002 attack in the Jenin Refugee Camp, in the northern West Bank.

Five Israeli soldiers who participated in the military assault and who were profiled in the film have filed a case against Bakri for alleged falsification of information. The trial is scheduled for next month. The soldiers are also suing two Israeli cinema theaters for screening the film.

The documentary investigates the Israeli military operation in Jenin refugee camp that killed 52 Palestinians, leveled over 150 buildings, and closed off the camp for two weeks in April 2002.

Although the film was highly acclaimed by international screen guilds and won several awards, the Israeli film board initially banned the documentary’s screening in Israel. The Israeli Supreme Court reversed that decision in November 2003, ruling that the board's censorship infringed on freedom of expression.

Despite this success, Bakri has been blacklisted by most Israeli cinemas and his career in Israel is in jeopardy.

Born in Bina Village, near Galilee, in 1953, Bakri is one of Israel’s most popular actors, starring in scores of movies and plays by Israeli and international directors since the early 1980s. He has also directed and produced three films – “1948” (1998), “Jenin, Jenin” (2002) and most recently “Since You Left” (2005). His second movie, the controversial documentary, won Best Film at Chartaje Film Festival, Tunisia and the Critics’ Prize at Ismalia Film Festival, Egypt in 2002.

 

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