Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Elder of ZiyonThe Keshet documentary is a Canadian-Israeli co-production presented by Israeli anchorman Ya'akov Eilon. The binational cooperation enabled Canadian journalists to interview people that Israelis would not have had access to, such as Alex Linder, the owner and operator of the viciously anti-Semitic, white supremacist Vanguard News Network.
The filmmakers document what they describe as "new Anti-Semitism" through the use of hidden cameras in conferences, demonstrations and behind the scenes of anti-Zionist meetings across the globe.
Filmmaker and director Martin Himel told The Jerusalem Post that the primary objective of the documentary is to present "Anti-Semitism in action," to allow viewers to feel what it means and to acknowledge that is exists.
"My goal was not so much to explain it [Anti-Semitism] or to describe how people suffer. For me it was more important to say, 'Here is the new Anti-Semitism, take a look and see it for what it is,'" he clarified.
The director pointed to comparisons of Jews with Nazis and the use of terms such as "genocide," "extinction" and extermination" when discussing Israel as examples of contemporary Anti-Semitism. He also cited claims that Jews control Hollywood, the banks and the media as examples.
He was keen, however, to point out the difference between being critical of Israel and being anti-Semitic, saying that the former conversely includes language such as "occupation," "annexation of territories" and "settlements." Himel also flagged lobbies such as Occupy AIPAC, which he charged with disguising Anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism. The documentary "pulls the pants down on people who say 'I'm anti- Zionist, not an anti-Semite,'" Himel told the Post.
(h/t Yoel)
