Culture
Israel vs. Paradise Now
Itamar Eichner
Published: 12.02.06, 12:42
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81 Talkbacks for this article
1. Finally Hollywood Jews collaborate toward a good cause.
Tahl ,   Israel   (02.12.06)
It's high time that the Jews in Hollywood would use their power and influence, in order to improve Israel's image in the world, or at least, not let it deteriorate further. If they have the power, why not use it? Unlike Spielberg's Munich, looks like they're finally doing something positive now. There is a big difference between allowing freedom of speech and showing the other side's point of view - and on the other hand, cheapening and almost legitimizing the deaths of hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians, by humanizing the homicide bombers that took their lives. Someone please answer me - would a film showing the "humanity" of the Al Qaeda terrorists responsible for 9/11, or of the terrorist Al Zarkawi, responsible for hundreds of GIs killed in Iraq - be nominated for an Oscar in the United States? Furthermore, would the treatment of the Iraqi POWs by American prisoners, or the hundreds of thousands homeless in Afghanistan, after the US bombing there - ever make it to American cinemas, let alone the Oscar?
2. We do not give a damn about Israel and Hollywood
Palestinian   (02.12.06)
We will free our occupied palestinian lands sooner or later. This is our aim, and this is our objective. Our roots in this land is like the olive tree.
3. Israel.....the oasis of democracy!!!!!!!!!!
Raed ,   nablus   (02.12.06)
Israel can not tolerate any victory of the Palestinians even if it is very small and concerning just a movie.this is the true face of the only democracy in the middle east which now uses the ways of the third world to prevent yhe freedom of speech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. There is a Petition against this movie
Joan ,   Holon   (02.12.06)
Please sign it & pass iy along to all your friends & acquaintances!!!! http://www.petitiononline.com/060201/petition.html over 4000 people have signed from all around the world: USA, Canada, Italy, UK, Italy, Sweden, Japan, China, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand & more!!!! Please pass this around
5. The palastinians are thr foriegn colonialists
michael ,   israel   (02.12.06)
Quote: The bigger the lie the more people will believe it "JosephGerbles". The Palastinians are Arabs, by definition this means that they are from \Arabia, were as Jews are from Judea, (Modern day Israel). Next they'll tell us that they built Jerusalem, and Beit Lechem (which is a hebrew word). The Ishmaelites are jealous because they know in the depths of their hearts that the jews are the Land lords of Israel and they don't stand a chance, all the rest is Bla Bla.......
6. To Palestinian #2: You Arabs are so boring
Efi   (02.12.06)
You are a broken record, you sound like an insanely corny yet psychotic imbecile, quite typical. Tell me mr olive tree, have you ever thought for yourself instead of repeating the crap you've been programmed with
7. Oscars, the battlefield
Farouk ,   Jerusalem   (02.12.06)
It is a shame that all these contacts and resources are not invested in something more constructive. I am of the opinion that without a fuss this film would not have a chance for many reasons other than the Oscar criteria. Making a big fuss about it will bring this movie more attention than if it had been left alone. Should it be believed that the pro-Israel pressure prevented it from receiving the Oscars award then the movie would have won by its own rights. I think today Abu Assad's allies are his enemies.
8. #2 - You Occupier
Chlaya ,   Israel   (02.12.06)
You Arabs are the ones occupying MY country, Eretz Yisrael. You have been brainwashed into believing that you are actually a 'people,' which you aren't. This movie is nothing more than Fascist-Islamic propaganda, similar to "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion." It is garbage and has no place in a legitimate competition.
9.  Re: "Israel.....the oasis of democracy!!!!!!!!!!"
Joshua ,   New York   (02.12.06)
Like many of your brothers and sisters, brainwashed as you are by your media and your terror organizations, you haven't the first clue what democracy entails. How exactly is expressing one's opinion and lobbying against that which one disagrees with undemocratic?
10. to #3
me ,   here   (02.12.06)
.. and you have the audacity to demand freedom of speech?? the arabs' hypocracy is unlimited! what about the cartoons ,that you primitvies are going so nuts about? would n't that be freedom of speech?
11. Paradise Now
Mel Saltz ,   U S A   (02.12.06)
Let's hope Paradise Now wins 5 or 6 Oscars; Best picture, best actor, best choreography, etc. American Jews who still embrace The Left need to be slapped in the face at every opportunity until they finally figure out that International Leftists hates our guts and wants Israel destroyed. They will cry (crocodile tears) when it happens, but in their hearts they do want Israel gone. American Jews would never just walk into gas chambers like our European cousins did, but they will continue to vote for the leftist/progressive/Democratic politicians who would sell Israel out.
12. Free Speech Now ...
Jalaba ,   Ramallah   (02.12.06)
What a bunch of hypocrites the Israelis are. How they scream about the Palestinians and Arabs and Muslims who protest stupid things, and then only to turn around and be so petty themselves. Whether Paradise Now wins or not is not the point, but to lobby against the film and worse, to be so petty as to demand that the film not be recognized as being from Palestine only exposes Israeli hypocrisy. You don't want peace. You want occupation and continued war. Shame on all of you. It's sad. Palestinians have recognized Israel but the Israelis continue to deny Palestine exists. Who is promoting hatred?
13. quest of denying our existence why should we accept yours
from a palestinian ,   Ejerusalem Palestine   (02.12.06)
14. i'm just wondering …
konstantin ,   germany   (02.12.06)
…whether anyone who's bashing that movie did actually see it. I did. This flick is not an instruction how commit or even glorifies suicide bombing attacks but rather shows a conflict run into a dead-end. Simply a look from the other side of a fence. Its good one and there is nohting to go crazy about. And if this movie should win an oscar, its ok, who cares. Much worse is the fact that people who didnt take pleasure in this movie, particulary "Hollywood Israeli or Jews", are unintentionally making the best PR this movie may ever get. To extert pressure on AA members or even harsh talkbacks here are only doing antisemits a favor to approve their cliché that Jews are fond of being victims but never a culprit. Therefore to reach an agreement "Paradise Now" represents PA and not state of Palestine was an elegant and smart move by Israeli officials.
15. Always the the olive trees! They grow on their own.
Rob ,   UK   (02.12.06)
Israelis grow tomatos, kiwi fruit, lettuce, oranges and every variety of flower. "Palestinians" harvest olive trees--that basically grow in the sand by themselves.
16. Konstantin #14
Joshua ,   New York   (02.12.06)
"To extert pressure on AA members or even harsh talkbacks here are only doing antisemits a favor to approve their cliché that Jews are fond of being victims but never a culprit." The very last time we kept our heads down and didn't complain, Germany murdered six million of us. The notion that the mere fact that Jews voice complaints spreads anti-Semitism really is an idea that we should avoid like the plague. If we don't defend our interests, no one else will do it for us.
17. No, Paradise Now is an antisemite propaganda movie
Its place is among ,   goebbles' films.   (02.12.06)
18. Re: #12
konstantin ,   germany   (02.12.06)
there are enough hypocrites on both sides. But about this "movie conflict" you hit the mark!
19. I say let them win the Oscar
Alexander ,   Ramat Gan, Israel   (02.12.06)
If the film loses, the loser will claim that it was because of the Jewish pressure and its soooooo not fair. If the movie wins, however, Hollywood will have no more defense against being accused of sympathy for terrorists. In this battle, any victory is a Pyrrhic victory.
20. Israeli Self-Rightousness Makes You Look Stupid
Daniel ,   New York   (02.12.06)
To answer Tahl, who likes to indulge himself in the traditional self-righteous Israeli arrogance of berating other Jews and lecturing them on what they "should" do, the answers to your stupid questions are quite obviously "yes" and "yes." Israelis should stop acting so self-righteously and with such huge chips on the shoulders about everything. It makes you seem like total losers. And by the way Tahl, you don't help the case for your intelligence by using the idiotic Bushism "Homicide bombers." What other kind of bombers are there? Next we'll be hearing about "homicide assassins," and "homicide murderers."
21. The Arab occupation of the Jewish land
Roger ,   USA   (02.12.06)
must stop!
22. This movie humanizes the Arab serial killers
Ann ,   USA   (02.12.06)
There is no place for it at Oscars!
23. Ohh..boy, the Arab pride of those
Melanie ,   USA   (02.12.06)
who claim to be Palestinian will be wounded. How touching and sad! Why don't you Arabs (Palestinian) start rioting?
24. What is the matter the Hamastanis will not
Mel ,   USA   (02.12.06)
get the Oscar? How sad that Hollywood will not bestow the award on the Palestinian Arab terrorists.
25. Palestinians go home
Chanan ,   Israel   (02.12.06)
You defy history, you defy facts, you are not a people, but a nation of robbers, go home to wherever it is you came from, and no it is not Palestine, as Palestine is a colonial term, and it is not greater Israel that you may call home as then you are athiests, so please do us all a favor and go home.
26. konstantin #18
Joshua ,   New York   (02.12.06)
"there are enough hypocrites on both sides" Unlike in Germany and most everywhere else in Europe, where there are hypocrites on all sides. The more things change etc. etc.
27. What a democracy
(02.12.06)
here is it ... the Jewish loby in the USA using it's power to blackmail the the American ... forcing the the Academy to change their minds and to cheat them selfs and sell their brains to the Jewish and no matter if it's fair or not .... i ask the American to get up ... they are buying you ... they are put you more in trouble .... they are blackmailing you .... when you will realise this .... come on guys ... do somthing .... you are asking the Arabs to axept the free speach and you are blocking the American minds for your interest .... tow scales as usual .... WALK UP AMERICA
28. Pick Your Battles
David ,   Yerushalayim   (02.12.06)
This is just plain stupid. Do people not have anything better to do with their time than try to be fascists over a film. If you don't like it, don't see it. For God's sake what's wrong with you people. Get a life.
29. Final solution for the American cinema?
Henry James ,   US   (02.12.06)
2006-02-12 Final solution for the American cinema? http://inplainview.monitor.us.tt/comm.ME06.htm
30. Re: "What a democracy"
Joshua ,   New York   (02.12.06)
I know it's a strange concept for an Arab to get his head around, but in any democracy worthy of its name any person or group of people have a right to express their views. This has nothing to do with blackmail and everything to do with freedom. Trust an Arab to use one of the basic principles of freedom to try and make an anti-Semitic point. You people really do need to grow up. And we Jews have contributed more to American society than you people could even dream of. The civilised world is a war with Islam and not Judaism.
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