The Israel's censorship board has banned a movie produced by an Israeli Arab Mohammad Bakry that depicts the Jenin Massacres. Bakry received a fax from the Israeli Ministry of Information forcing him not to debut his film in any cinema in Israel’s occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza). According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, the decision was made on the basis that the film fabricates truths and exaggerates the Israeli treatment of the occupied Palestinian people.
The daily also reported that the body banned the movie "Jenin, Jenin" because Israel feels it falsely demonstrates fictional events as truth. The movie was portrayed as propaganda that represents a biased view of the group with whom Israel finds itself at war.
Israeli media say the movie upholds Palestinian claims that Israeli soldiers carried out atrocities during the battle in Jenin. The Israeli public would find the movie extremely offensive and "may mistakenly think that Israeli soldiers are intentionally, systematically carrying out war crimes," David-Almalea said.
Bakry presented his documentary film that portrays the actual events at the Jenin Massacres in Rome and in a number of European cities. The film is to be screened in Lebanon in the very near future.
Bakry speaking to the daily expressed his “disapproval towards Israel saying the rights of people to speak out and express themselves are being repressed so that the truth may never come out. He added that the suffering of his people must be exposed to the outside world so the villain may be prosecuted and punished,” adding "I am going to court against the censor, and I hope that democracy will win this test." -Albawaba.com
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
