Israeli actors boycott new West Bank theatre

It could be called a drama within a crisis. Dozens of Israeli actors, playwrights and directors are causing a stir just days before US sponsored peace talks are due to get underway.

They are refusing to perform at a new theatre in the occupied territories. Many believe failure to do so would condone illegal settlements in the West Bank.

‘‘We should not give any legitimisation to the settlements on the other side of the green line because in my mind they are one of the major obstacles for a peace settlement with the Palestinians.’‘

But the artistic boycott has dominated and divided the Israeli media. Now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also stepped into the row.

‘‘The legitimacy of the state of Israeli is under attack from different agents in the international community. This attack includes attempts to boycott Israel economically, academically, and culturally. The last thing we need at this time are boycott attempts from within us,’‘ Netanyahu said.

Despite that, the actors and production companies say they will not play in areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

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