*Advisory: Press Conference in Los Angeles Friday
The Israel Project (TIP) recognizes terrorism has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people all over the world. Therefore, when "Paradise Now" was released, began winning awards and was ultimately nominated for an Academy Award, TIP became concerned that filmgoers would get the message that suicide bombing is acceptable. But no matter how desperate a person is, terrorism is not a legitimate tactic. Blowing up innocent men, women and children on buses and in pizza parlors is never justified.
The film inspired Yossi Zur, whose eleventh-grade son Asaf was blown up by a suicide bomber, to write a commentary about "Paradise Now." Zur explains that while the film is a very professional production, created with great care for detail, it is also an extremely harmful piece of work, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but the whole world.
Zur's piece inspired an online petition calling for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to revoke the Oscar nomination. As of Wednesday, the petition contained more than 33,000 signatures.
Zur could not be present in Los Angeles to deliver the petition to the Academy in person because the award ceremony falls on the third anniversary of his son's death. Instead, he will be at Asaf's graveside. But on Wednesday, March 1, he presented the petition publicly at a noon press conference in Jerusalem.
For additional information:
The Israel Project
2020 K Street N.W., Suite 7600
Washington, DC 20006
202-857-6644 (phone)
202-857-6674 (fax)
www.theisraelproject.org
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder and President (Washington, D.C.)
202-857-6644 (office)
202-365-0787 (cell)
jenniferm@theisraelproject.org
Calev Ben-David,
Director, The Israel Project's Israel Office (Jerusalem)
011-972-2-623-6427 (office)
calevbd@theisraelproject.org
Jennifer Packer, Senior Adviser for Media (Washington, D.C.)
202-857-6657 (office)
202-487-9056 (cell)
jenniferp@theisraelproject.org
Michal Slawny, Media Communications Assistant (Washington, D.C.)
202-857-2766 (office)
202-494-6325 (cell)
michals@theisraelproject.org
Nonie Darwish, Arab-American Peace Activist
818-366-2452 (cell)
nonie@arabsforisrael.com
Yossi Zur,
Father of victim of suicide bombing on Israeli bus on March 5, 2003
011-972-54-424-8912 (cell) (Please note: Israel is +7 hours EST)
Yossi@blondi.co.il
www.blondi.co.il
Yossi Mendelevich,
Father of victim of suicide bombing on Israeli bus on March 5, 2003
011-972-52-320-7188 (Please note: Israel is +7 hours EST)
Yossi232@012.net.il
www.Yuvali.org
Ron Kehrmann,
Father of victim of suicide bombing on Israeli bus on March 5, 2003
011-972-54-491-1822 (Please note: Israel is +7 hours EST)
ron@tal-smile.com
www.Tal-smile.com
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Jerusalem press conference and Zur's commentary,
click here.
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Petition asking the Academy to revoke the nomination for "Paradise Now,"
click here.
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Full page ad, "An Unseen End to Paradise Now?" which will run Friday in
Variety magazine in the U.S.,
click here.
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Reporter Beth Accomando reports on the controversy over a film that's up for an Oscar in the best foreign language film category. "Paradise Now" follows two Palestinian suicide bombers on a mission: Public Radio International, BBC
listen with Windows Media Player (3:30)
