Israeli censors lift Jenin film ban

From Aljazeera News

Israel’s Supreme Court has overturned an official ban on the screening of Jenin, Jenin, a documentary depicting the West Bank massacre.Israelis will be able to watch the grisly events that took place for about two weeks in April 2002 in Palestinian director and co-producer Muhammad Bakri’s film, which picked up international accolades. Bakri, who also holds Israeli citizenship, won a court battle on Tuesday after the court argued that Film Ratings Board’s decision was an “exaggerated attack on freedom of expression”. The censorship board slapped a ban on the film last December, claiming it “distorted presentation of events in the guise of democratic truth which could mislead the public”. Jenin, Jenin was the first film to be censored in 15 years.

The censorship board had acted on the grounds that the documentary presented a "biased version" of the events.But the court, acting on a petition of Bakri, ruled that it did "not lie within the competence of the censorship committee to determine what is true and what is false."Human rights groups said at least 52 Palestinians were killed in the rampage, among them women, children and elderly. Palestinians initially feared hundreds had been massacred after an Israeli bull-dozer demolished 300 homes, many with the occupants still inside.The UN ordered a team of inspectors to go and investigate, but Ariel Sharon caused international outrage when he refused to let the team go in to Jenin.

For 54 minutes, viewers are gripped by the harrowing stories retold by survivors of the massacre. Without the use of a narrator, the film pieces together the events of the massacre through the survivors’ stories. A Palestinian girl, no older than 12, simultaneously captivates and shocks audiences with her intensity and lack of emotion.A young mute survivor carries viewers through the different sections of the film, gesturing wildly as his haunted eyes dart excitedly about, re-enacting the Israeli atrocities he witnessed. The film quotes residents saying that Israeli soldiers had committed war crimes.

Tel Aviv's main arts cinema, Cinemateque, announced shortly after the court’s decision that it would show the film on 8 December. Speaking to Israeli army radio following the court ruling, Bakri said: “I hope the film will be broadcast on Israeli television so that the public can determine whether it is false or not.” The film is also dedicated to its producer, Iyad al-Samudi, who was killed by Israeli soldiers after the shooting of the documentary was completed. He was returning home during an Israeli invasion of the area. Jenin, Jenin won best film award at the 2002 Carthage International Film Festival and was widely screened across the world.


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0D58B8B7-1C74-4E25-9BC2-739EEC56EB75.htm

The High Court's verdict grants supreme status
to freedom of expression and the right to
freedom of artistic creativity. Therefore,
Bakri can screen his film even if the
respondents - reservists who fought in Jenin -
have a convincing different version of the
facts and chain of events that took place
during the IDF operations there. The power
given to the Film Board, as Justice Dorner
wrote, "does not include the authority to
uncover the truth by silencing expressions that
the board members believe are lies."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/360204.html

Maybe some of the other countries in the region will take note of a principal that Israel doesn't take lightly. Freedom of speech and expression, what a concept. Sure beats getting shot as a collaborator for expressing one's personal views.

The unfortunate part is we will be subjected to a revival of the Jenin massacre fable. Perhaps it could apprear with 'The Murder of Rachel Corrie' for an evening of fantasy. Oh, my.

to see a revival of the "fable" why did you bring it up? oh,my!

in this beacon of freedom and democracy, the most moral army in the world uses violence on peaceful protesters protesting an inhumanitarian "fence" being built on top of Palestinian land with the purpose of grabbing land.

These protesters were not fired on.

you're right - I'll edit the post.

The IDF reacted with restraint in the face of hundreds not minding themselves.

You mean protesting against their oppressors?

btw, beating and gassing people isn't my definition of "restraint"...

Herschel and myself understand full well the dangers these "peaceful (yeah right) protestors" present to little Israel.Peace will not,and should not,be tolerated.

where's Maple??

personally I have seen the light!

Shame on both of you.

This began with an exchange of some important principals and both of you preferred a schoolyard sandbox fight.

You were speaking of how Israel was a bastion of free speech, so I decided to show that it is hardly a protector of the civil liberties of some...

If you have the right to commend, I have the right to criticize. You were clearly trying to make a point; I contested it. Then you criticize me.

Should I from now on pay no attention to things I disagree with? Should I avoid debate to stop it from ruining an "exchange of important principals"?

.