Ya Libnan

Lebanon bans ‘The Post’ over Spielberg’s Israel support

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Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg attend the "The Post" premiere on Jan. 15, 2018 in Milan, Italy. A ban on Spielberg’s new movie has been issued in Lebanon because of Spielberg's support of Israel. (Stefania M. D'Alessandro/Getty Images)
Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg attend the “The Post” premiere on Jan. 15, 2018 in Milan, Italy. A ban on Spielberg’s new movie has been issued in Lebanon because of Spielberg’s support of Israel. (Stefania M. D’Alessandro/Getty Images)

Lebanon’s censorship authorities have effectively banned Steven Spielberg’s newspaper drama, “The Post,” because the American director is on a regional blacklist for supporting Israel.

The directive by the country’s General Security agency still needs to be signed by Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk to enter into effect, but that is considered a formality that is unlikely to stop the ban.

The directive accompanied another ban on “Jungle,” a survival movie based on the memoirs of Israeli national Yossi Ghinsberg

Lebanon and other Arab nations have long maintained a cultural boycott against Israel. But the twin bans reflect the growing strength of a once-fringe movement to extend the boycott to people and companies seen as too friendly to Israel.

General Security, which is also charged with running Lebanon’s only commercial airport, detained acclaimed Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri as he arrived last year to promote his latest film, “The Insult.” The drama is Lebanon’s entry to the Foreign-Language awards category at this year’s Oscars.

Doueiri was questioned on charges of doing business with Israel. His previous film, “The Attack,” was banned in Lebanon and most Arab countries because it was filmed in Israel and featured several Israeli actors. All charges were dropped against him after news of his detention caused a scandal in the national media.

Also last year, Lebanese authorities banned “Wonder Woman” hours before it was due to premiere, following a campaign against its lead actress, Gal Gadot, who served in the Israeli army.

Supporters of the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Last March Steven Spielberg was quoted as saying when he was asked the question, “How would you describe your attitude to Israel?,” Spielberg responded: “From the day I started to think politically and to develop my own moral values, from my earliest youth, I have been an ardent defender of Israel. As a Jew I am aware of how important the existence of Israel is for the survival of us all.
Last March Steven Spielberg was quoted as saying when he was asked the question, “How would you describe your attitude to Israel?,” Spielberg responded: “From the day I started to think politically and to develop my own moral values, from my earliest youth, I have been an ardent defender of Israel. As a Jew I am aware of how important the existence of Israel is for the survival of us all. In 2007 the Arab League voted to boycott Spielberg’s movies after he donated $1 million for relief efforts in Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War, ” in which 1200 Lebanese people were killed and over 1 million people were displaced

Lebanon is officially at war with Israel and Lebanese law bans its citizens from visiting Israel or having business dealings with Israelis.

But General Security and its censorship bureau have been inconsistent in their application of a cultural boycott. Several previous Spielberg films have played in Lebanon, including “The Adventures of Tintin,” ”The BFG,” and “Bridge of Spies.” And the ban against “The Post” and “Jungle” is unlikely to prevent Lebanese from watching them through streaming websites or on bootleg DVDs.

Lebanese cinemas were already showing “Jungle” when they were advised to pull it, said Isaac Fahed, the Sales & Distribution Manager at Grand Cinemas, a Middle East cinema chain.

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