The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by Israel Defense Forces soldiers against director Mohammed Bakri over his film "Jenin, Jenin," about an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city. The five soldiers, who fought in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, claimed that the film, labeled a documentary, is libelous and filed a NIS 2.5 million suit against Bakri in 2007. The court ruled that while the film is controversial and full of things that are untrue, and while it hurt the soldiers' feelings, there is no basis in the law for a civil claim against Bakri as his film referred to the IDFs operation in Jenin, generally, and not to any individual soldier. The court also determined that Bakri would not be forced to compensate the soldiers who filed suit. The film Jenin, Jenin aimed to portray the Palestinian perspective on the IDF's Operation Defensive Shield in Jenin in 2002, which followed a number of suicide attacks that same year culminating in the attack on a Netanya hotel that left 29 Israelis dead. Bakri snuck into Jenin with a camera and interviewed residents after attending a protest against the IDF operation during which soldiers shot at protesters. He did not interview any Israelis for the film. Jenin, Jenin was later banned by the Israeli Film Ratings Board, and a response film was subsequently produced. The film does cause deep pain to Israeli society, at large, and the good name of the IDF and its soldiers, said Justice Yoram Danziger, but he added that any reasonable person watching the film would see that it is not libelous against any single soldier within the group. The appellants feelings are understandable," added Justice Yitzhak Amit. "However, our interpretation must relate to the legislation, not only to the concrete facts in this case. Former Attorney General Menachem Mazuz did not issue a criminal indictment against Bakri for libel during his term. However, he has, in the past, supported civil litigation on the part of the soldiers in a letter to the Supreme Court.
Supeme Court rejects libel claim against 'Jenin, Jenin' director
Supreme Court rules that director Mohammed Bakri will not pay reparations to IDF soldiers from Jenin operation in 2002 • Justices acknowledge that film is filled with lies, but note that it doesn't single out any individual soldiers.
Load more...