The Crif Alsace denounced this Sunday, September 8, “the establishment of a climate of fear and hatred” after the decision of the organizer of the Shalom Europa festival to cancel the event in order “not to add violence to the tense context and to protect employees and the public.” The ecologist town hall says it is acting to “reschedule this festival as soon as possible.”
Israeli film festival cancelled in Alsace under the «pression» of pro-Palestinian collectives, according to its organizer, and reactions that rain down in cascade. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) Alsace denounced this Sunday, September 8, a “intellectual terrorism”after the cancellation of the Shalom Europa festival, which was to be held from September 8 to 10 in Strasbourg.
In a press release entitled “No to intellectual terrorism and the creation of a climate of fear and hatred in Strasbourg!”the Crif Alsace deplores that ““The pressure, intimidation and threats on the Star cinema and its staff (have) got the better of the Israeli film festival cancelled by the operator after 15 years of programming”. “We do not accept the totalitarian methods of small groups that seek to deny Israel the right to exist, its citizens and its artists the right to express themselves.”writes the Crif Alsace.
The town hall denounces “unacceptable threats and pressure”
Stéphane Libs, manager of the Star cinemas, announced on Friday that the festival had been cancelled, denouncing a «pression» exercised by pro-Palestinian collectives. “The decision to cancel was taken so as not to add violence to the tense context and to protect employees and the public.”he explained. Several pro-Palestinian groups had called for the cancellation of this festival, which was initially scheduled to take place in June and had already been postponed amid tensions linked to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
“Shame on these French associations who are doing censorship work worthy of authoritarian regimes and who are exploiting the tragedy unfolding in the Middle East to give free rein to their hatred.”denounces the Crif Alsace. The association calls “local authorities to replace the festival partner, as well as state services to do everything possible to ensure that this festival can take place and thwart this censorship”.
The Green mayor of Strasbourg, Jeanne Barseghian, judged on Saturday “unacceptable” THE “threats and pressures weighing on the festival and its partner cinema”. She assured to be “in conjunction with the organizers of Shalom Europa to reschedule as soon as possible this festival which, like many cultural events, allows residents to have access to cinema in its diversity”.
