Riots' aftermath: Akko Theater Festival postponed

Akko's Mayor Shimon Lankry announced Friday that the Akko Israeli Theater Festival, planned for next Wednesday, would be postponed to a later date, following the Arab-Jewish riots that took place in the city during Yom Kippur.

"Due to the feelings of anger and insult among the residents, it seems pointless to go ahead with the festival," he said. The festival's administrative committee has scheduled a meeting for October 14, in which a new date for the festival would be decided on.

Science, Culture and Sport Minister Raleb Majadele had called earlier for "public leaders to demonstrate restraint and promote calm. Akko was a symbol of coexistence and the Akko festival must go ahead as planned."

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Galilee Development Authority, Moshe Davidovitch, recommended the cancelation of the festival, saying that many Jewish residents of Akko viewed the festival as a sort of red flag, since they claim it is intended to serve the Arab residents of the city.

Censure of the decision to cancel the festival came from both sides of the political spectrum: Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar said it was a "poor and wrong decision, that sends a message of weakness and capitulation to violent rioters." 

Likewise, Meretz Chairman Haim Oron called the cancelation a "capitulation" to Jewish and Arab extremists. "We must act in order to return the gentle balance of coexistence in the city and prevent extremists from dictating the daily reality," he said.

From a logistical perspective, the Akko municipality stated that cancelation of the Akko Israeli Theater Festival will cost NIS 4 million (approximately $1.1 million) in immediate damages to the municipality budget. This sum does not include the money to be lost by returning money for tickets to festival-goers.

The festival's Director-General Albert Ben-Shlush told Ynet on Thursday that "all the artists have arrived, the stages are set up," but that the actual implementation of event was up to the mayor and the police. 

The 29 Akko Theater Festival was supposed to begin on October 15 and close on October 20. It was to feature to 65 different events, including theatrical presentations, competitions, street theater, performance art and performances by foreign guests.

"I weaved through them, it was very frightening to see. Because we had been disconnected (from the news) for a day, rumors abounded. It looked like hooligans from the West Bank," he said.

Ahiya Raved and Sharon Roffe-Ofir contributed to this report