Culture Minister Miri Regev sparked controversy after storming out of the Ophir Awards, protesting the performance of a poem by Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish. She later returned and was invited on stage to announce the best picture award, but encountered jeers from the audience. The Ophir Awards, the Israeli Academy of Film and Television's highest prize, are also known as the Israeli Oscars. Ilana Dayan, a journalist who presented the award, attacked the government, saying: "You can't decide which stories we tell. When evil spirits come, we will film them and tell the story. When danger hovers, it's not just the hour of the journalist, it's the hour of the witness." She received applause from those who had scorned Regev. "I want to explain why I left during the ceremony," said Regev when she returned. "I do have patience for others, but I have no patience for Darwish and whoever else wants to destroy Israel," she said, responding to Darwish's words, "I will eat the flesh of my oppressor." She received both jeers and applause. The audience remained rowdy during her speech, booing and clapping. Some members of the audience even stood in protest. As she spoke about artists who criticize her management of film funding organizations, audience members yelled at her, calling her a liar and an instigator. Regev said she will not leave the stage until she finishes. "I can't believe what happens when you hear another view," said Regev. "I may have a different viewpoint than you, but that is no reason for you to shut my mouth. Israeli cinema will not be an exclusive club. I intend to limit the term of film funding organization heads just like every other cultural institution." Meanwhile, many artists stood and left the auditorium in protest, as others told them to sit down. The speech stopped as Israeli Academy of Film and Television Chairman Moshe Danon got on stage to ask the audience to let Regev finish so the ceremony could end. Following the audience's response to Regev, Israeli-Arab film director Ibtisam Maraana got on stage and asked the audience members to sit in amity and to respect Israeli cinema. "Mahmoud Darwish might want to eat Jewish flesh -- I am an Arab and I don't want to eat Jewish flesh, except for my husband Boaz's. Let's celebrate our industry. Our power." She announced the best picture, "Sand Storm." Ophir Awards were handed out in 18 categories, the most anticipated one being best picture, as it decides which Israeli film gets sent to the Academy Awards and hopefully nominated for best foreign film.
