Police have barred a Jaffa theater from screening a film about the Israeli takeover of Lod during the 1948 Independence War.
The decision follows a request from Likud Culture Minister Miki Zohar, who argued that the film slanders the state of Israel and its soldiers.
Police told the head of the al-Saraya Theater that the screening was cancelled because he didn’t request a permit to screen the film, even though it has not been banned in Israel, Haaretz reports.
The theater director said police also ordered him to submit every film that he plans to screen for permission from here on out. Officers also summoned him for questioning at a local police station.
The film “Lyd” tells the story of Lod, with emphasis on the Palestinian narrative and includes never-before published footage of the deportation of the city’s Arab residents in 1948.
The film was co-directed by Rami Younis and Sarah Ema Friedland and anti-Israel singer Roger Waters is one of the producers.
Police confirmed the decision to ban the screening, citing a pre-state, 1927 ordinance that required local councils to approve film screenings ahead of time. The penalty for violating the law is listed as a month in prison or a 50 lira fine.
The police decision followed an appeal from Zohar earlier today in which he said those behind the film support boycotting Israel.
Zohar hailed the police decision. “The time has come to put an end to the wild incitement against the heroic IDF soldiers who sacrifice their lives for the people of Israel, especially in these days.”
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