Jerusalem theater faces backlash over Gaza screening

Tension over ongoing Palestinian knifing attacks on Israelis has reached local movie theaters as well.

The Jerusalem Cinematheque plans on screening “Shaking in Gaza” Sunday night, a Dutch film about the psychological warfare suffered by Gazans in the summer 2014 war. But city council member Yael Antebi is vehemently opposed to the idea.

“I will do all I can to prevent the screening of this false film about our soldiers,” wrote Antebi on her Facebook page. “Not now, not ever.”

Antebi said she planned to enact sanctions against the theater, which is partially publicly funded, if the screening was not canceled.

The film, which was already screened at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque in July, documents the visit of Dutch trauma expert Jan Andreae to Gaza following Operation Protective Edge in July and August 2014, and his treatment of Palestinian trauma victims.

Jerusalem Cinematheque director Noa Regev said in an official response that the film is “unfortunately relevant in these difficult times” because it deals with how to build a meaningful life and recover from trauma in times of conflict and war.

“The remarks against the film clearly came from someone who hasn’t seen the film,” wrote Regev.

During the July Tel Aviv screening, director Geert van Kestern spoke about applying Andreae’s treatment to Israelis. He planned to screen the film in Sderot, near the Gaza border, at the town’s Cinematheque theater.

That scheduled screening was canceled following pressure from right-wing activists, as were subsequent screenings planned for the southern cities of Beersheba and Yeruham. In both cases, the local municipality blocked the screening.

The local chapter of Amnesty International is co-sponsoring the screening in Jerusalem, which will include a panel with Andreae.

“Shaking in Gaza,” Sunday, October 18, 8:30 p.m., Jerusalem Cinematheque.