Abraham and Adra, a filmmaking duo from Israel and Palestine, recently received the festival’s best documentary award for their film “No Other Land,” which focuses on Palestinian resistance to Israeli actions in the occupied territories. Adra expressed difficulty in celebrating the award due to the ongoing violence in Gaza, calling for German lawmakers to halt weapon shipments to Israel. Abraham also called for a ceasefire and an end to Israel’s occupation, receiving applause from the audience, including German culture minister Claudia Roth.
The speeches have sparked a debate in Germany about whether public statements by artists should be labeled as antisemitic if they don’t align with the country’s official stance on Israel. The filmmakers have faced criticism from journalists and politicians, with the mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, denouncing their statements for failing to mention Hamas. Culture minister Roth described the speeches as “shockingly one-sided” and announced an inquiry into the matter.
The arts sector in Germany has been under scrutiny since 2022, following a controversy over antisemitic caricatures at the Documenta art exhibition. Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, condemned the speeches as “blatant anti-Semitic discourse” and criticized Germany for allowing such rhetoric under the guise of freedom of expression and art.
The festival also saw American filmmaker Ben Russell wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf on stage and denouncing a “genocide” in Gaza, which drew intense media reaction. Abraham revealed that he had received over 100 death threats on social media and feared for his safety, delaying his return to Jerusalem.
Abraham defended his comments, stating that he called for an end to “apartheid” between Israeli and Palestinian citizens, emphasizing the unequal rights and treatment they receive. He expressed confusion over the characterization of his remarks as antisemitic, highlighting the need for open dialogue and understanding.
2024-02-28 06:32:28
Article from www.nytimes.com