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Viewpoint - July 8, 2010
The Silent Boycott of Israel
Here's a report that most likely won't be written about in
the Western press.
Hollywood actors Meg Ryan and Dustin Hoffman backed out of
attending this year's annual Jerusalem Film Festival, which
is set to kick off this coming Thursday, following the
international outcry over Israel's attack on a Turkish-led
flotilla that attempted to break the Gaza blockade on
May 31, The Jerusalem Post learned Monday.
According to Cinematheque associate director Yigal Molad
Hayo, while neither gave the political climate as a direct
reason for canceling their participation in the festival,
"it became quite clear that this was the reason," he said.
"Meg Ryan was supposed to come here, it had all been closed
with her people," said Molad Hayo, adding "a day after the
flotilla incident we got an email saying she was not going
to attend, and although they claimed it was because she was
too busy, it was clear to me that it probably had something
to do with what had happened."
In addition to Ryan, who has starred in such movies as
Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally and, more
recently, Kate and Leopold, Molad Hayo said that the
Cinematheque had also reached "advanced negotiations"
with Jewish actor Dustin Hoffman.
"We were very close to reaching an agreement with him,
then the flotilla happened and correspondence was ended,"
said Molad Hayo.
Ryan and Hoffman are not the only high-profile names to
decline participation in this year's festival.
Prince Albert of Monaco, son of legendary actress Grace
Kelly, was also slated to attend.
"I'd already made arrangements for a tribute to Grace Kelly
to appear in the festival program," said Molad Hayo, adding
that he believed Prince Albert's cancellation could have
come from pressure in his own country not to make an
official visit to Israel at this time.
"I think they believed it could have been very negative
for him and even dangerous," he said.
"Many people from the Gulf States have their bank accounts
in Monte Carlo and they might not have approved of him
coming to a festival in west Jerusalem."
"Sadly, even though we are a well-known event, it is
obvious that the State of Israel has more influence than
we do," continued Molad Hayo, adding "many people are
swayed by the political situation."
Despite the obvious boycotting by high-profile guests,
this year's festival will still bring in some 150 official
guests from all over the world, including heads of other
international festivals, actors, producers and directors.
It will also debut roughly 50 homegrown movies,
documentaries and short films.
"Our guests this year might not be as famous as Dustin
Hoffman, but there will be some well-known producers
and directors," said Molad Hayo. "Many of those attending
took it upon themselves to pay their own way. This, to
me, is very impressive and a compliment to the festival."
He added that the festival, as in past years, will
continue to provide an avenue for coexistence between
Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, and a delegation
from the Cinematheque in Ramallah will attend.
"We are well known for encouraging cooperation between
Palestinian and Israelis in the area of film," said
Molad Hayo.
More than 70,000 people are expected at the two-week
event, which will take place at the Cinematheque and
at various other locations around the capital.
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