I understand that the ITC is investigating complaints you have received following the recent showing of John Pilger's film Palestine is still the issue. I assume that these complaints reflect the character of attacks on the film that have appeared in the press and on the internet. These accuse it of inaccuracy and bias, of supporting terror and of promoting anti-semitism. Some even call John Pilger's integrity into question.
I watched the film when it was shown and, as a person who would claim to have some knowledge of the history and current state of the conflict in the Middle East, I would like to make it clear that I found its factual content highly accurate. My impression is that a great deal of careful research went into its making. It is certainly true that the film takes a definite and committed position. But its tone is sorrowful rather than angry and, whether or not one agrees with the judgements it makes, there can be no doubt that these judgements are fair comment, grounded in fact and derived from universal humanitarian values. Furthermore, the film's makers seem to have gone to some trouble to ensure that views of Israelis with standpoints different from Mr Pilger's own are represented. A particular case in point is the part of the film in which an Israel government spokesman is interviewed. He is shown responding thoughtfully and at length to John Pilger's searching (but courteous) questions and, notably, the film makes no attempt to pass comment on his responses.
I saw nothing in the film that condoned terror. In fact, condemnation of violence against civilians from whatever source seems to be a recurring theme. As a British Jew, I found no trace of anti-semitism in the film's content. Anti-semitism demonises Jews simply for being Jews. This film demonises no-one and does not attack any group for being the people they are. Rather it raises serious questions about the actions of a sovereign state. It is surely the hallmark of a free society that the behaviour of any powerful political institution should be open to critical scrutiny -even if that institution is the State of Israel.
Finally, I would like to inform you that I have personally seen expensively printed material circulated by the United Synagogue (the largest Synagogue grouping in the UK) and designed to orchestrate responses from within the Jewish community to any criticism of Israel that may appear in the public domain. I strongly suspect that the protest against John Pilger's film has, to a large extent, been `manufactured' in this kind of way. I should also point out, in case you do not already know, that, in recent months, a number of people (in the UK and elsewhere) who have taken a public stance critical of Israeli government policy have found themselves subject to what amount to hate campaigns.
I invite you to agree with me that Palestine is still the issue is a fine
film. I urge you to reject the
complaints that have been made against it and to advise complainants that,
rather than trying to silence John Pilger, they should choose the democratic
way and seek to make films expressing a different point of view but aiming for
the same high standards and showing as much respect to opponents as his does.