09/06/2026
Calls to boycott Israeli culture do not bring peace; they simply silence the very voices driving dialogue and reconciliation. In a small market where original storytelling depends entirely on public funding, boycotting institutions means directly boycotting the creators themselves.
The ultimate absurdity lies right here: when international festivals boycott prominent Israeli creators - like Nadav Lapid, one of the fiercest and most consistent critics of the Israeli establishment - they achieve the exact opposite of their stated goals.
In a bizarre twist of irony, the festival is effectively aligning with and doing the dirty work of right-wing politicians like Culture Minister Miki Zohar, who has long called to censor and boycott Lapid’s critical voice at home.
Especially in times of conflict, the role of art is to illuminate complexity, challenge authority, and foster empathy - not to deepen divisions and assist in silencing dissent from both sides.
https://www.ynet.co.il/entertainment/article/h1zg9sxwmg
https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/cinema/2026-06-08/ty-article/.premium/0000019e-a65b-db91-abfe-bedbd2fe0000
לפיד היה אמור לעמוד בראש חבר השופטים בפסטיבל FID במרסיי, אך עשרה במאים הודיעו כי ימשכו את סרטיהם מהאירוע. בתגובה, עמיתים של לפיד חתמו על עצומת תמיכה בו
