The malevolence underlying the protest by select celebrities against the spotlighting of Tel Aviv at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) leaves one angry, once again, at the blatant prejudice that passes for impassioned morality among some.
The protesters decried the fact that they did not want to be complicit in a propaganda campaign on behalf of the government of Israel, pointing to a previously announced effort by Israel’s foreign ministry to “rebrand” the Jewish state as more than a place of conflict.
We know, however, given the well-know hostility toward Israel of the leaders of the protest, that the “rebranding” decision had absolutely nothing to do with the TIFF protest. TIFF’s co-director Cameron Bailey, no staunchly proven supporter of Israel himself, unequivocally stated that the “rebranding” campaign played no role whatsoever in the decisions made by the festival.
TIFF was simply a conveniently timed, high profile, starlit event at which to bring forward the protesters’ ideologically driven politics of demonizing the Jewish state on the way to its delegitimization in the international community. The “rebranding” campaign was a convenient pretext for their outcry, but not the reason for it. Witness the parallel efforts in Montreal, for example, to stop Leonard Cohen from performing in Israel.
But the protest leaves one worried as well as angry. Surely, not all the people who “sign on” to the cause wish to see the end of an independent, sovereign Jewish state, as do the deliberate propagators and reiterators of the vicious apartheid lie.
How can it be, we ask ourselves, that good, well-meaning people also simply adopt baseless, factless, hateful misinformation as truth?
They obviously know very little about the place and the people that exorcise their consciences to such an unthinking, herd-like frenzy. And yet, though they know nothing or next-to-nothing, they willingly join the malicious march to a destination that, God forbid, would forever and irremediably cleave the Jewish heart.
Ironically, the decision by TIFF to showcase the diverse artistry and rich sophistication of the Israeli film industry is vindication of the correctness of the decision to try to show the people of the world that Israel is vastly more than simply a place of conflict with the Palestinians.
That so many in the world do not know this – that they see Palestinians as the victims of an illegitimate Jewish will to national sovereign existence – is itself sad proof of the success of the propaganda campaign run these past decades by the Palestinian leadership and their supporters.
It is the Palestinian leaders and their supporters who have rebranded Israel, untruthfully, as oppressor and colonizer.
And so, it is today that Israel must try to seize back and replant the truth about itself in the minds of the ill-informed, unknowing people of the world.
Those celebrity artists, members of the world of theatre, arts and culture, who – out of their lack of knowledge – vilify Israel, might wish to know that the tiny country – population around seven million – is vibrant, dynamic, democratic and imperfect.
The Israeli film industry, some features of which were on display at TIFF, is but one of the details of the country’s day-to-day, teeming, open, resplendent, diverse cultural life.
Indeed, some of the TIFF protesters might be interested to know that the Jerusalem Cinematheque – to name but one of countless cultural places in Israel – which sits on the edge of the Kidron Valley facing the walls of the Old City, brings together thousands of dedicated film lovers and casual film viewers of every age and every ethnic and religious background. It offers regularly scheduled screenings, special screenings and, of course, the annual International Film Festival for the benefit of all – Jew and Arab, Israeli and Palestinian, and tourists from all over the world – who wish to partake. The Cinematheque is also an educational centre for schoolchildren, students of cinema, educators of all backgrounds and ordinary members of the wide public.
Some TIFF protesters might also be interested to know that this summer, two musical events of extraordinary artistic power will be held at a place in Israel that is itself one of extraordinary power.
Giuseppe Verdi’s emotional opera Nabucco will be performed on June 3 and 5, 2010, at Masada. Between the performances of the opera, on June 4, the renowned, Grammy Award-winning soprano Jessye Norman will give a concert featuring arias, lieder, folk songs and spirituals, at the imposing desert fortress.
I harbour no delusions about the TIFF protesters and their willingness to inform themselves about the true nature of life – including, or even especially, cultural life – in Israel. They are not really interested in the truth about the Jewish state. But those who are, should educate themselves. For information about the unending cultural activities in Israel, one can contact the Israel Government Tourism Office in Toronto at 416-964-3784.