Filmbase in Dublin will be hosting a series of “Israeli Film Days” sponsored by the Israeli Embassy between November 24th and 27th. The IPSC is calling on our supporters to mobilise in opposition to this attempt to use “culture” to whitewash Israeli apartheid and human rights violations against the Palestinian people.

In 2005 a director of the Israeli foreign ministry stated that “We see culture as a hasbara [propaganda] tool of the first rank, and do not differentiate between propaganda and culture.” Filmbase has sold out to the Israeli regime by offering itself as a vehicle for this propaganda. It has sacrificed the power of culture to the culture of power.

The IPSC will be staging a series of protests and leaflettings outside the venue over the course of the festival. If you can make it along to any or all of the mobilisations then please do, it is very important that we do not allow this attempt at normalising the abnormal to happen without raising our voices in opposition.

We also recommend that you write to Filmbase to protest their hosting of this event – see here for more info.

See below for a full agenda:

** THUR 24th NOV – 5.30pm – 7.45pm
At the launch, which will be addressed by the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Boaz Modai, the IPSC is calling for a demonstration and mass leafleting outside Filmbase. We intend to be there from 5.30pm until 7.45pm.

** FRI 25th NOV – 6pm – 7.30pm
We will be mobilising at 6pm to leaflet outside Fimbase before a screening of “Irish Love in Tel Aviv”, an episode of an Israeli sit-com and the film “Jellyfish”.

** SAT 26th NOV – 8pm – 9pm
We will be mobilising at 8pm to leaflet outside Fimbase before a concert by Izhar Ashdot.

** SUN 17th NOV – 6pm – 6.30pm & 7.45pm – 8.30pm (Final Day)
6pm – mobilising for leafleting outside Filmbase before the film “A Matter of Size”.
7.45pm – mobilising for leafleting outside Filmbase before the final film of the festival, “Someone to Run With”.

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Israel’s Cultural Censorship
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* In 2002, Israel prevented the Palestinian poets Zakaria Mohammed and
Ghassan Zaqtan from travelling to Ireland to read their work. Also in 2002,
after only three showings, Mohammad Bakri’s film Jenin, Jenin was
banned by the Israeli Film Board.

* In May 2009, Israeli soldiers prevented the opening of the Palestine
Festival of Literature in Jerusalem. Last April, the venue hosting the final
event of 2011 Festival was attacked with tear gas by the Israeli army.

* In May 2010, the Israeli authorities deported Spain’s most famous clown,
Ivan Prado, who was planning to establish a clown festival in Ramallah.
In summer 2011, Israeli commandos assaulted the Freedom Theatre in
occupied Jenin, arresting several of its members.

* This month, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu suspended Israel’s
financial contribution to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation which oversees the protection of the
world’s cultural heritage. This was to “punish” the majority of the world’s
states for having voted to admit Palestine to the UN agency. This constitutes
an Israeli cultural boycott of most of the world.

* Most recently, the Israeli Communications Ministry closed down the joint
Palestinian-Israeli radio station “All for Peace”, claiming that its message
of reconciliation “incited against Israel”.