What is this, the Soviet Union, where the government pays for movies? If the movie does not make a profit, let its maker go bankrupt!

Agree. I watched 5 Broken Cameras and thought that there was no way that anyone in the west could see this movie and have even an ounce of sympathy for Israel. How would someone in the west who doesn't know history or closely follow the news know where the bias and distortions are in this film? Maybe, and its a big maybe, someone might wonder, why you taking your children to these riots where they are likely to get harmed? Or why dont these kids go to school? Of course over here people are so caught up with the lunacy of how the Executive and Legislative branches of government are working that they might not see the movie anyway...

No need for the state to pay for anti-semitic, anti-Israeli lies and propaganda. This is not democracy, its libeling and slandering the state of Israel and the Jewish people.

How wrong the Palestinians are. If any sane person watches the documentary, they will realise that Palestinians have freedom of movement within the West Bank. That they have freedom to protest, they have freedom to use the Israeli supreme court, they have freedom to ask for treatment at Israeli hospitals instead of going to Palestinian ones. Note that Emad was seriously injured and if it was not for Israel he would be dead today. It also shows that apartheid does not exist. 5 broken cameras shows that the Palestinians are very big liars...the only problem is no one takes notice of those very apparent examples. 5 broken cameras should be used as tool to prove to the world of the lies that the Palestinians spread...they can all be proven lies by using examples within 5 broken cameras...people do not realise that eventhough the underlying agenda was anti-Israel, there are so many scenes that could be used against them. Do not know why someone does not do an analysis of 5 broken cameras...

'Partially' funding films is OK, but be more critical!

The hallmark of a democracy is its support of mechanisms of self-criticism. Governments should fund civil society watchdog groups. Governments should fund the arts. Government should fund education. Steven's example of the Soviet Union (or Nazi Germany, by extension) is moot as they only supported government propaganda and persecuted critics. Luckily, the opposite is the case in Israel. What governments shouldn't fund are political extremists living in the West Bank and all of the apolitical sheep that followed them in search of government subsidized cheap housing.

Then maybe Israel should examine its own behavior. While Broken Cameras omitted the reason for the construction of the wall, it presented the effect of the construction in unvarnished reality. As well as the effect of the continued illegal settlement enterprise on the inhabitants of the area.

The only lies lie in the minds of those who refuse to see reality who distort recurring events and deny human rights.

According to Michelangelo, he was jew and worked for the Medici's family not for the Pope... also Da Vinci was jew... where do you learned italian history?

Anti Israel ? or Anti Right Wing Liberman ? its a proven fact that any artist whether in the medium of film, stage, or Litreature that dosent agree with the right wing policy of Liberman can be black listed, Naturally Liberman starts screaming "anti israel and antisemitism in an attempt to silence freedom of expression, and artistic freedom. If they can fund Torah studies , who openly encourage homophobia i suggest that we also cut funding to these institutions as well. The usual hypocracy i see. A sign of a desperate goverment if ever there was.

Instead of just trying to block these movies we should invest and create incredible movies about our claim to the land. Its time religious zionist jews and hopefully also the haredi Jews to get into the film, TV and film industry in Israel and penetrate the Israeli psyche in that way. Today the cultural leaders in Israel society, those who form and shape the culture and way of thinking of Israeli society, all come from the far left who dont represent more than 10% of Israeli society. Cant just read Psalms and expect miracles. Have religious zionist activists enroll in films classes and start producing our own films. It wont be easy. It will be very hard to penetrate the influential left-oriented movie and film industry in Israel but within ten years we can be producing our own film reflecting our claim which can and will represent us globally.

Hollywood is a cesspit of anti-social personalities. We should exclude these celebrities from entry to Israel - the world would admire us. Hollywood is not about art; it is about narcissm

The Jews have their motivation from historical experience not Hollywood Though Shindlers List was a great movie .Now things are tougher the Arabs have become Jihadi and the Viscious cycle is unrelenting .In any case it's not the Ten million Palestinians its nearly whole Islamic world .Iran is impossible seventy million with Hizbollah braying in the next decades a nuclear exchange looks more and more likely and the Jews ought unite in Preperation.

Instead of just trying to block these movies we should invest and create incredible movies about our claim to the land. Its time religious zionist jews and hopefully also the haredi Jews to get into the film, TV and film industry in Israel and penetrate the Israeli psyche in that way. Today the cultural leaders in Israel society, those who form and shape the culture and way of thinking of Israeli society, all come from the far left who dont represent more than 10% of Israeli society. Cant just read Psalms and expect miracles. Have religious zionist activists enroll in films classes and start producing our own films. It wont be easy. It will be very hard to penetrate the influential left-oriented movie and film industry in Israel but within ten years we can be producing our own film reflecting our claim which can and will represent us globally.

and these two documentaries are testimony to that. No Oscar but the noise surrounding these films made them look like worthy winners and provided them with international publicity no money can buy- and in this sense, one could say they won although they did not get the coveted award - but they won nevertheless because anti-Israel propaganda always wins. As with 'Jenin, Jenin' these two films will be used for years to criticize, misrepresent and defame the State of Israel.

A big "NO" to funding hostile leftist movies. Yes to prosecuting those who demonize Israel.

It is abominable to force hard pressed Israeli taxpayers to fund dishonest leftist movies which demonize Israel. Why is it so hard for Israeli politicians to understand that Israel should NEVER fund her enemies! It is the simplest of common sense.

Of goverment funding for movies attacking left wing "human rights" organisations nor the Oslo "peace" process

The scenario is at the largest israeli theater. They are now hesitating to perform it or not. This play would be able to turn the presently tragic propaganda situation of Israel. I give gladly further informations about it for everyone.

Dear Yoaz Hendel, 45 years of occupation and a third revolt of Palestinians in vue. Our case is obviously not good and has become indefensible. Peace is not in view but we desesperatly need a border and this is not in view either.

"The investment in art is provincial and is meant to promote Israeli interests and make the citizens proud. The State is not trying to enrich the world with beauty or knowledge of the cinema." only tell people positive things about Israel and nothing else. Way to go, Leni Riefenstahl. Doing us proud.

All governments must have standards, and I can't imagine any government funding outright libel or legally-based incitement to hatred. But apart from that dire extreme, I think it's to Israel's CREDIT that it funds works of art that may be very critical or that come from diverse viewpoints. It's a sign that Israel is a flourishing democracy in the fullest sense.

should we finance their publication? Me no think so....

Tom, can you not see the irony of your words? That is exactly the dangerous road which Mr Hendel wishes Israel to take - the road of state-sponsored propaganda and nothing else.

ganda in case it' won't be financed with my/our money. The pockets of say, Saudis are much deeper than ours (unless you of course believe, that ALL finances are controlled by Jewish Cabal) and we should find an "honest" Israeli leftist teamed with a "Palestinian" to document THAT as well. Because, it seems: you're the VERY intellectual kind for whom nothing is stupid/vile/idiotic enough not to be "examined" ? Maybe you think the average "World-Citizen" is smart enough to sift through lies/ truth, but that is evidently not the case. Just my wild guess...

a completely different view of the propaganda aspect of state funding. At least the sane individuals,Isrelis with a healthy dose of "Life-Wish"... I used to be European like you and I know, that your reality SEEMS to you like a place where you can afford your largesse towards everything& everybody. Surprise: no you don't. You just don't know it yet!

Tom, clearly your view is that of many. Israel is at war, it is part of the Middle East, and not 'European' (whatever that means). So, democracy can wither away. Right?