Hollywood back Netflix over anti-Israel ‘Fauda’ boycott

LOS ANGELES: More than 50 Hollywood executives have thrown their support behind Netfl ix, which is facing a campaign by a Palestinianled movement to drop Israeli television series “Fauda” from its streaming platform.

In a letter on Tuesday to Netfl ix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, the executives from record labels and Hollywood talent agencies called the move by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions ( BDS) movement a “blatant attempt at artistic censorship.”

“Fauda” is an Israeli-made television thriller set in the West Bank about an Israeli undercover agent who comes out of retirement to hunt for a Palestinian militant.

The show, which features dialogue in both Hebrew and Arabic, was fi rst broadcast on Israeli television in 2015 and premiered on Netfl ix in December 2016. Netfl ix is due to release the second season in May.

In a posting on its website last week, the BDS called on Netfl ix to “nix ‘Fauda’,” saying the series “glorifies the Israeli military’s war crimes against the Palestinian people.”

“Failing to do so will open Netfl ix to non-violent grassroots pressure and possible legal accountability,” the posting added.

Netfl ix declined to comment on Wednesday.

In its letter of support, the USbased Creative Community for Peace called “Fauda” a “nuanced portrayal of issues related to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.”

“We want you to know that we stand behind you and Netfl ix in the face of this blatant attempt at artistic censorship,” the letter said. Signatories included Universal Music Publishing Group Chief Executive Jody Gerson, Geffen Records president Neil Jacobson and Steve Schnur, music president at videogame producer Electronic Arts.

The campaign against “Fauda” is the latest move since 2005 by BDS to promote a global cultural boycott against Israel.

It has succeeded in recent years in dissuading a number of music acts, including Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, Elvis Costello and New Zealand singer- songwriter Lorde, from performing in Israel. — Reuters

(Left to right) Television personalities Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni ‘JWoww’ Farley, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, Paul ‘Pauly D’ DelVecchio, Deena Cortese and Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi (also inset right) attend MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’ New...