In a statement in response to the pledge, the Israeli Film and TV Producers Association said, “The signatories of this petition are targeting the wrong people.”
“For decades, we Israeli artists, storytellers, and creators have been the primary voices allowing audiences to hear and witness the complexity of the conflict, including Palestinian narratives and criticism of Israeli state policies,” the statement read.
“We work with Palestinian creators, telling our shared stories and promoting peace and an end to violence through thousands of films, TV series, and documentaries. This call for a boycott is profoundly misguided.”
The statement continues to describe the boycott as “shortsighted,” serving to “eliminate precisely the collaborative efforts working toward ending violence and achieving peace.”
“We will not allow this and will push back in our efforts to end violence and bring just peace to our region for the benefit of all,” the statement adds. “We call on the international community to recognize our commitment to dialogue, peace, and giving voice to all sides of this conflict. Our stories are tools for understanding and healing, and we will continue using them to help bring an end to violence.”
Advocacy group Film Workers for Palestine said this morning that over 1000 high-profile industry professionals, including names like Ava DuVernay and Olivia Colman, have signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions that are “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people”
tinyurl.com/2ap4a7ne