Turkey: Israeli play canceled over protests
Cameri Theater forced to call off participation in Antalya festival as Palestinian demonstrators plan to disrupt performance. 'I don't remember an incident like this,' says company's director-general
Show must not go on? Israel's ambassador to Turkey says a leading Israeli theater company has been forced to cancel a play because Turkish protesters planned to disrupt the performance.
Gabby Levy says he recommended that the Tel Aviv-based Cameri company cancel the play in Antalya after Turkish authorities warned of protests inside and outside the theater.
The play, "Move My Heart," was written by Hanoch Levin and is directed by Udi Ben-Moshe. It has enjoyed great success both in Israel and worldwide, and was scheduled to be performed twice on Sunday at International Antalya Theater Festival.
But the Cameri decided to send its entire delegation back to Israel without taking part in the festival.
According to reports received by the Israeli Embassy and the festival's organizers, Palestinian protestors had purchased tickets to the play and were planning a provocation during the performance.
Cameri Director-General Noam Semel told Army Radio on Sunday that he decided he could not endanger the 21-person company. He said he had performed abroad at least 100 times, including in Turkey, and did not "remember an incident like this".
"I am shocked by the situation," he told Yedioth Ahronoth. "It's a shame that politics once again crosses into art."
Once close allies, Turkey and Israel have seen their ties deteriorate as the Mideast peace process remains deadlocked and as Turkey has turned increasingly away from the West and toward the Islamic world.
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