Filmmaker Mira Nair tweeted today that she will not be traveling to Israel to attend the Haifa Film Festival, which will take place from September 19-28. The festival organizers had invited Nair to honor her for her work on her most recent film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry announced today that Israel and Palestinian officials have agreed to restart peace talks for the first time in more than 3 years.
Read Nair’s full statement below:
I was just invited to Israel as a guest of honor at the Haifa International Film Festival with “The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” (1/5)
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) July 19, 2013
I will not be going to Israel at this time. I will go to Israel when the walls come down. I will go to Israel when occupation is gone. (2/5)
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) July 19, 2013
I will go to Israel when the state does not privilege one religion over another. I will go to Israel when Apartheid is over. (3/5)
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) July 19, 2013
I will go to Israel, soon. (4/5)
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) July 19, 2013
I stand w/ Palestine for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) & the larger Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Mov't. (5/5)
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) July 19, 2013
I guess she will also not accept invites to any film festivals in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar (or appear on Al Jazeera), Libya or Iran – cuz you know, these places also do not acknowledge freedom of conscience and repress religious minorities. (Note: I agree with her on Israel – she’s just a hypocrite with respect to the non-Jews).
? When did Al Jazeera declare that it opposes freedom of conscience or repress religious minorities?
And you neglected to add that none of these places have international film festivals to begin with, so any point you’re trying to make is irrevelant in this case.
Is it? The Tribeca film festival recently created an outpost in Doha, and Mira Nair took this very film to that festival last year.