2 june 2017
At least five of the twelve international speakers scheduled to participate in the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival this June 1-10 have reportedly pulled out after queer Palestinian activists and their allies in the BDS movement called for boycotting the “pinkwashing” propaganda event that gives progressive cover for Israel’s ongoing and grave violations of Palestinian human rights.
Out of respect for the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott, the award-winning South African director John Trengove withdrew from the TLVFest’s opening event. In a letter to the organizers, Trengove wrote:
With the pain of the Apartheid struggle still fresh in our collective consciousness, the issue is … a very sensitive one for many South Africans. …knowing what I know now, I feel it is imperative that I withdraw myself from attending. … [I]t is impossible to look past the fact that the festival (and my participation in it) could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel.
Later, Trengove added,
A rigorous boycott against ALL [Israeli] government funded initiatives is necessary. … As a South African, I have first-hand experience of how boycotts helped bring about democratic transformation and therefore have decided to add my name and voice to the boycott Israel initiative.
Trengove was followed by U.S. Emmy Award-nominated producer, director, writer and organizer Catherine Gund, her co-director Daresha Kyi and the entire team at Aubin Pictures who produced the documentary Chavela on famed Mexican singer Chavela Vargas. They all endorsed the call to boycott. Canadian actress and comedian Fawzia Mirza also canceled her participation out of respect for the call.
Media reports say that German filmmaker Helene Hegemann, Swiss actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer, and Nadia Abraham, a Palestinian living in Denmark who was slated to participate in the festival jury and on a panel, have also canceled. As a result, the entire line-up for a Women in Cinema panel has been removed from the festival website.
In a letter to festival organizers, Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi wrote:
TLVfest is being supported by government entities in Israel that are deeply complicit in violations of international law which include ongoing wars, repression of Palestinians, and occupation of Palestinian lands. … [C]ultural events, such as this festival, aim to cover up these violations. … On a personal and political level, we cannot support this. Our film, which sets forth a vision of peace and freedom, should not be at an Israeli-government funded cultural event. We stand in solidarity with the boycott.
The letter concluded stating:
[W]e at Aubin Pictures, Inc., producers of Chavela, will take whatever steps we can towards supporting the boycott. Neither of the directors nor any other representative of the film will be present at this festival. We will not do any press that highlights this festival. And we are committed to working with Palestinian queers and their allies in the BDS movement as we continue the journey of bringing Chavela out into the world in a safe, respectful manner that supports the Palestinian cultural boycott in efforts to uphold the human rights of Palestinians everywhere.
Haneen Maikey, director of Al-Qaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society, commented:
As Palestinian queer activists, we warmly welcome the support of principled artists like John Trengove, Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi, who refuse to let their art cover up and “pinkwash” grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights. They’ve rejected the Israeli government’s cynical use of LGBTQI culture and events to feign a bankrupt unity at the expense of others, and instead affirmed their commitment to a more free and more just world for all.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) said:
We applaud these filmmakers for heeding our call not to cross the picket line and supporting our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Their statements demonstrate a nuanced approach with great regard for the calls of the oppressed.
Their ethical support for the nonviolent cultural boycott of Israel to achieve Palestinian human rights exposes the Orwellian characterization by the festival director Yair Hochner of the BDS boycott efforts as ‘violence’ while his festival tries to pinkwash decades of Israeli violence, ethnic cleansing and military occupation.
PACBI added:
The BDS movement strongly believes that art has the power to effect change, and that artists have the moral responsibility to refrain from allowing their art to perpetuate or cover up oppression.
Art sponsored by government institutions that are complicit in crimes against the oppressed loses that power and becomes nothing more than a tool to whitewash, or pinkwash, violations of human rights. Just as artists refused to perform in Sun City during South Africa’s apartheid era, more and more artists are denying Israel the opportunity to use their art to conceal its decades-long regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid against the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law. Visit PACBI at https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi and follow us on Twitter @PACBI
Out of respect for the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott, the award-winning South African director John Trengove withdrew from the TLVFest’s opening event. In a letter to the organizers, Trengove wrote:
With the pain of the Apartheid struggle still fresh in our collective consciousness, the issue is … a very sensitive one for many South Africans. …knowing what I know now, I feel it is imperative that I withdraw myself from attending. … [I]t is impossible to look past the fact that the festival (and my participation in it) could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel.
Later, Trengove added,
A rigorous boycott against ALL [Israeli] government funded initiatives is necessary. … As a South African, I have first-hand experience of how boycotts helped bring about democratic transformation and therefore have decided to add my name and voice to the boycott Israel initiative.
Trengove was followed by U.S. Emmy Award-nominated producer, director, writer and organizer Catherine Gund, her co-director Daresha Kyi and the entire team at Aubin Pictures who produced the documentary Chavela on famed Mexican singer Chavela Vargas. They all endorsed the call to boycott. Canadian actress and comedian Fawzia Mirza also canceled her participation out of respect for the call.
Media reports say that German filmmaker Helene Hegemann, Swiss actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer, and Nadia Abraham, a Palestinian living in Denmark who was slated to participate in the festival jury and on a panel, have also canceled. As a result, the entire line-up for a Women in Cinema panel has been removed from the festival website.
In a letter to festival organizers, Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi wrote:
TLVfest is being supported by government entities in Israel that are deeply complicit in violations of international law which include ongoing wars, repression of Palestinians, and occupation of Palestinian lands. … [C]ultural events, such as this festival, aim to cover up these violations. … On a personal and political level, we cannot support this. Our film, which sets forth a vision of peace and freedom, should not be at an Israeli-government funded cultural event. We stand in solidarity with the boycott.
The letter concluded stating:
[W]e at Aubin Pictures, Inc., producers of Chavela, will take whatever steps we can towards supporting the boycott. Neither of the directors nor any other representative of the film will be present at this festival. We will not do any press that highlights this festival. And we are committed to working with Palestinian queers and their allies in the BDS movement as we continue the journey of bringing Chavela out into the world in a safe, respectful manner that supports the Palestinian cultural boycott in efforts to uphold the human rights of Palestinians everywhere.
Haneen Maikey, director of Al-Qaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society, commented:
As Palestinian queer activists, we warmly welcome the support of principled artists like John Trengove, Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi, who refuse to let their art cover up and “pinkwash” grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights. They’ve rejected the Israeli government’s cynical use of LGBTQI culture and events to feign a bankrupt unity at the expense of others, and instead affirmed their commitment to a more free and more just world for all.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) said:
We applaud these filmmakers for heeding our call not to cross the picket line and supporting our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Their statements demonstrate a nuanced approach with great regard for the calls of the oppressed.
Their ethical support for the nonviolent cultural boycott of Israel to achieve Palestinian human rights exposes the Orwellian characterization by the festival director Yair Hochner of the BDS boycott efforts as ‘violence’ while his festival tries to pinkwash decades of Israeli violence, ethnic cleansing and military occupation.
PACBI added:
The BDS movement strongly believes that art has the power to effect change, and that artists have the moral responsibility to refrain from allowing their art to perpetuate or cover up oppression.
Art sponsored by government institutions that are complicit in crimes against the oppressed loses that power and becomes nothing more than a tool to whitewash, or pinkwash, violations of human rights. Just as artists refused to perform in Sun City during South Africa’s apartheid era, more and more artists are denying Israel the opportunity to use their art to conceal its decades-long regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid against the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law. Visit PACBI at https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi and follow us on Twitter @PACBI
27 may 2017
South African filmmaker John Trengove on withdrawing from the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival
Award-winning South African filmmaker John Trengove canceled his participation in the upcoming Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (TLVFest). His film, The Wound, is scheduled to be the festival’s opening night film on June 1.
In his letter (copied below) to festival organizers informing them that he was canceling his participation, Trengove said:
While I appreciate that the organizers of TLVFest may be well intentioned and progressive, it is impossible to look past the fact that the festival (and my participation in it) could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel.”
He added,
“With the pain of the Apartheid struggle still fresh in our collective consciousness, the issue is, as you can imagine, a very sensitive one for many South Africans. …knowing what I know now, I feel it is imperative that I withdraw myself from attending.
Trengove’s letter acknowledged that he is unable to withdraw his film from being screened in Israel, because it has already been sold for screening and distribution. He said:
I … accept that this is a situation that is out of my hands, though my wish is that the film not be shown in Israel while current conditions persist.
Queer Palestinian activists and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) warmly welcomed Trengove’s decision to respect the Palestinian picket-line and cancel his participation in the film festival.
Hind Awwad from PACBI said,
Palestinian civil society warmly thanks John Trengove for his principled solidarity and decision to respect our picket line by cancelling his participation in TLVFest. We hope international artists follow his lead and cancel their participation, denying the Israeli government an opportunity to use their name to cover-up and pink wash its crimes.
Queer Palestinian activists and allies have called on international filmmakers to cancel their participation in the Israeli government-sponsored TLVFest. Their call is part of a wider campaign urging international LGBTQI filmmakers, artists and businesses to Boycott Tel Aviv Pride, which Palestinian queer activists note is a pink washing exercise to obscure the fact that “underneath the rainbow, Israel is hiding 69 years of occupation, colonialism and apartheid.”
Letter from John Trengove to TLVFest Director Yair Hochner:
Dear Yair,
It is with sincere regret that I have to inform you that I will not be attending TLVfest next week. In the last few days I have been approached by activist organizations as well as members of the South African film community, urging me to respect the cultural boycott against Israel, and specifically TLVfest. With the pain of the Apartheid struggle still fresh in our collective consciousness, the issue is, as you can imagine, a very sensitive one for many South Africans.
The issue of pink washing has also been underscored to me. While I appreciate that the organizers of TLVfest may be well intentioned and progressive, it is impossible to look past the fact that the festival (and my participation in it) could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel.
I understand that it is very late for me to make such a decision, and for this I am sincerely sorry. It is out of naivety, and a desire for my film and the human issues it promotes to be seen as far and wide as possible, that I accepted your invitation several weeks ago. Unfortunately, knowing what I now know, I feel it is imperative that I withdraw myself from attending.
I also understand that the film has already been sold, not just for screening but also for Israeli distribution. I therefore accept that this is a situation that is out of my hands, though my wish is that the film not be shown in Israel while current conditions persist.
I hope that you will accept my decision in the spirit that it is intended, which is not a personal attack on you or your team, but motivated by realisation of what deeply personal and political convictions require of me.
Sincerely,
John Trengove
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law. Visit PACBI at https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi and follow on Twitter @PACBI
Award-winning South African filmmaker John Trengove canceled his participation in the upcoming Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (TLVFest). His film, The Wound, is scheduled to be the festival’s opening night film on June 1.
In his letter (copied below) to festival organizers informing them that he was canceling his participation, Trengove said:
While I appreciate that the organizers of TLVFest may be well intentioned and progressive, it is impossible to look past the fact that the festival (and my participation in it) could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel.”
He added,
“With the pain of the Apartheid struggle still fresh in our collective consciousness, the issue is, as you can imagine, a very sensitive one for many South Africans. …knowing what I know now, I feel it is imperative that I withdraw myself from attending.
Trengove’s letter acknowledged that he is unable to withdraw his film from being screened in Israel, because it has already been sold for screening and distribution. He said:
I … accept that this is a situation that is out of my hands, though my wish is that the film not be shown in Israel while current conditions persist.
Queer Palestinian activists and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) warmly welcomed Trengove’s decision to respect the Palestinian picket-line and cancel his participation in the film festival.
Hind Awwad from PACBI said,
Palestinian civil society warmly thanks John Trengove for his principled solidarity and decision to respect our picket line by cancelling his participation in TLVFest. We hope international artists follow his lead and cancel their participation, denying the Israeli government an opportunity to use their name to cover-up and pink wash its crimes.
Queer Palestinian activists and allies have called on international filmmakers to cancel their participation in the Israeli government-sponsored TLVFest. Their call is part of a wider campaign urging international LGBTQI filmmakers, artists and businesses to Boycott Tel Aviv Pride, which Palestinian queer activists note is a pink washing exercise to obscure the fact that “underneath the rainbow, Israel is hiding 69 years of occupation, colonialism and apartheid.”
Letter from John Trengove to TLVFest Director Yair Hochner:
Dear Yair,
It is with sincere regret that I have to inform you that I will not be attending TLVfest next week. In the last few days I have been approached by activist organizations as well as members of the South African film community, urging me to respect the cultural boycott against Israel, and specifically TLVfest. With the pain of the Apartheid struggle still fresh in our collective consciousness, the issue is, as you can imagine, a very sensitive one for many South Africans.
The issue of pink washing has also been underscored to me. While I appreciate that the organizers of TLVfest may be well intentioned and progressive, it is impossible to look past the fact that the festival (and my participation in it) could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel.
I understand that it is very late for me to make such a decision, and for this I am sincerely sorry. It is out of naivety, and a desire for my film and the human issues it promotes to be seen as far and wide as possible, that I accepted your invitation several weeks ago. Unfortunately, knowing what I now know, I feel it is imperative that I withdraw myself from attending.
I also understand that the film has already been sold, not just for screening but also for Israeli distribution. I therefore accept that this is a situation that is out of my hands, though my wish is that the film not be shown in Israel while current conditions persist.
I hope that you will accept my decision in the spirit that it is intended, which is not a personal attack on you or your team, but motivated by realisation of what deeply personal and political convictions require of me.
Sincerely,
John Trengove
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law. Visit PACBI at https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi and follow on Twitter @PACBI
13 may 2017
Norway’s Largest Trade Union Federation Endorses Full Boycott of Israel to Advance Palestinian Human Rights (Credit: Ole Palmstrøm)
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), representing close to one million workers, has endorsed a full boycott of Israel to achieve Palestinian rights under international law. LO is the largest and most influential umbrella organization of labor unions in Norway.
Commenting on this significant BDS victory in Norway, Riya Hassan, the Europe Campaigns Coordinator with the Palestinian BDS National Committee, said:
The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) salutes the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) for endorsing a full “international economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel” as a necessary means to achieve Palestinian fundamental rights, including the right of return for the refugees and equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel.
By courageously heeding the Palestinian BDS Call, issued by an absolute majority in Palestinian civil society in 2005, LO joins some of the world’s most important trade union federations, including South Africa’s COSATU, Brazil’s CUT, Quebec’s CSN and the Irish ICTU, in calling for meaningful BDS pressure on the corporations and institutions that have enabled decades of Israeli occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid.
The BNC hopes to closely coordinate with Norwegian partners within LO, particularly Fagforbundet, to translate this new policy into effective measures of accountability at the academic, cultural and economic levels to uphold human rights and international law. We also call on LO to apply pressure on the Norwegian government to end all its military ties with Israel’s regime of oppression and to divest its sovereign fund from all companies that are complicit in Israel’s occupation and illegal settlement enterprise.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Visit www.bdsmovement.net and follow @BDSmovement.
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), representing close to one million workers, has endorsed a full boycott of Israel to achieve Palestinian rights under international law. LO is the largest and most influential umbrella organization of labor unions in Norway.
Commenting on this significant BDS victory in Norway, Riya Hassan, the Europe Campaigns Coordinator with the Palestinian BDS National Committee, said:
The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) salutes the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) for endorsing a full “international economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel” as a necessary means to achieve Palestinian fundamental rights, including the right of return for the refugees and equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel.
By courageously heeding the Palestinian BDS Call, issued by an absolute majority in Palestinian civil society in 2005, LO joins some of the world’s most important trade union federations, including South Africa’s COSATU, Brazil’s CUT, Quebec’s CSN and the Irish ICTU, in calling for meaningful BDS pressure on the corporations and institutions that have enabled decades of Israeli occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid.
The BNC hopes to closely coordinate with Norwegian partners within LO, particularly Fagforbundet, to translate this new policy into effective measures of accountability at the academic, cultural and economic levels to uphold human rights and international law. We also call on LO to apply pressure on the Norwegian government to end all its military ties with Israel’s regime of oppression and to divest its sovereign fund from all companies that are complicit in Israel’s occupation and illegal settlement enterprise.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Visit www.bdsmovement.net and follow @BDSmovement.
10 may 2017
The council of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) held a session in Manama, Bahrain, and decided not to discuss the issue of the Israeli clubs playing in the settlements built in the occupied West Bank and to exclude it from the agenda of the conference.
The FIFA officially announced in a statement on Wednesday that it had decided not to include the issue of the Israeli clubs playing in the settlements for discussion or voting at the FIFA conference held in Bahrain. The FIFA claimed that it is "too early to take a decision on the matter".
On the sidelines of the conference in Manama, the FIFA Israel-Palestine Committee held a session in the presence of the head of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, and his Israeli counterpart, Ofer Eini, without reaching an understanding regarding the Palestinian request to ban six Israeli football teams from playing in the illegal settlements. The file was referred to the FIFA General Assembly.
According to the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, an official in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that despite the fact that the FIFA excluded this issue from the agenda of the conference, the Palestinian side still has the chance to file a second request to the FIFA to be discussed and voted on.
This decision came after Israel submitted a unilateral proposal to the FIFA to solve the issue. Israel fears that sanctions might be imposed on it especially after the FIFA Israel-Palestine Committee gave it a six-month time limit to suspend football matches in the settlements.
Haaretz reported that the proposed solution does not make many changes on the status quo but provides a practical solution to the issue as confirmed by a senior Israeli official.
The Israeli official refused to disclose the details of the proposed solution, but he affirmed that it maintains the status of the Israeli sport in the settlements on one side, and gives the FIFA a space to find solutions for the issue without imposing sanctions on Israel on the other.
Since 2005, the Palestinian Football Association has been pressuring FIFA and its member states regarding the Israeli clubs playing in the settlements. Based on Article (72.22) of the FIFA constitution, all countries are prevented from forming football teams and playing their matches on the territories of another country without being permitted by this country. The international law considers the Israeli settlements as illegal since they are established in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has six football teams that apply to this article and play in the Israeli league for the settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Ariel, Kiryat Arba, Giv'at Ze'ev, Jordan Valley and Oranit.
The FIFA officially announced in a statement on Wednesday that it had decided not to include the issue of the Israeli clubs playing in the settlements for discussion or voting at the FIFA conference held in Bahrain. The FIFA claimed that it is "too early to take a decision on the matter".
On the sidelines of the conference in Manama, the FIFA Israel-Palestine Committee held a session in the presence of the head of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, and his Israeli counterpart, Ofer Eini, without reaching an understanding regarding the Palestinian request to ban six Israeli football teams from playing in the illegal settlements. The file was referred to the FIFA General Assembly.
According to the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, an official in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that despite the fact that the FIFA excluded this issue from the agenda of the conference, the Palestinian side still has the chance to file a second request to the FIFA to be discussed and voted on.
This decision came after Israel submitted a unilateral proposal to the FIFA to solve the issue. Israel fears that sanctions might be imposed on it especially after the FIFA Israel-Palestine Committee gave it a six-month time limit to suspend football matches in the settlements.
Haaretz reported that the proposed solution does not make many changes on the status quo but provides a practical solution to the issue as confirmed by a senior Israeli official.
The Israeli official refused to disclose the details of the proposed solution, but he affirmed that it maintains the status of the Israeli sport in the settlements on one side, and gives the FIFA a space to find solutions for the issue without imposing sanctions on Israel on the other.
Since 2005, the Palestinian Football Association has been pressuring FIFA and its member states regarding the Israeli clubs playing in the settlements. Based on Article (72.22) of the FIFA constitution, all countries are prevented from forming football teams and playing their matches on the territories of another country without being permitted by this country. The international law considers the Israeli settlements as illegal since they are established in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has six football teams that apply to this article and play in the Israeli league for the settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Ariel, Kiryat Arba, Giv'at Ze'ev, Jordan Valley and Oranit.
Pizza Hut International has apologized for an advertisement posted on its Israeli franchise’s Facebook page making fun of Palestinian prisoners, who have been on hunger strike since April 17.
Its apology was published on Tuesday on its Lebanese franchise’s Facebook account.
“Pizza Hut International apologizes for any offence caused by a recent post on Pizza Hut Israel’s Facebook page,” the post read.
“It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the values of our brand. The local franchisee in the country removed it immediately and the relationship with the agency that posted it was terminated, and we truly regret any hurt this may have caused,” it added.
The Pizza Hut franchise in Israel recently posted on its Facebook page a screenshot taken from a footage released by the Israeli prison authority, claiming that the leader of the strike Marwan Barghouthi was eating secretly in his cell, and provided it with a caption reading in Hebrew, “Barghouthi, if you are no longer on hunger strike, why not eat pizza instead?”
Shortly after the advertisement was uploaded, Palestinian and Arab social media users started criticizing the pizza chain. Many even called for a boycott of Pizza Hut.
Its apology was published on Tuesday on its Lebanese franchise’s Facebook account.
“Pizza Hut International apologizes for any offence caused by a recent post on Pizza Hut Israel’s Facebook page,” the post read.
“It was completely inappropriate and does not reflect the values of our brand. The local franchisee in the country removed it immediately and the relationship with the agency that posted it was terminated, and we truly regret any hurt this may have caused,” it added.
The Pizza Hut franchise in Israel recently posted on its Facebook page a screenshot taken from a footage released by the Israeli prison authority, claiming that the leader of the strike Marwan Barghouthi was eating secretly in his cell, and provided it with a caption reading in Hebrew, “Barghouthi, if you are no longer on hunger strike, why not eat pizza instead?”
Shortly after the advertisement was uploaded, Palestinian and Arab social media users started criticizing the pizza chain. Many even called for a boycott of Pizza Hut.
