Demand to stop funding the theater that honored Muhammad Bakri

The 'Betzalmo' organization demands freezing the budget of the Sarad Theater in Haifa following an evening honoring director Muhammad Bakri, claiming it is a 'terror-supporting theater'. Culture Minister Miki Zohar responded that the authority to stop budgets lies with the Finance Minister, but clarified that he acts against entities harming Israel's good name.

The 'Betzalmo' organization, headed by Shai Glick, appealed to Culture Minister Miki Zohar demanding to freeze the budget of the Sarad Theater in Haifa, following an evening held there honoring director Muhammad Bakri. Bakri is the creator of the film 'Jenin Jenin', which the court banned from screening in Israel and ordered Bakri to pay damages in a defamation lawsuit. The event was described in the publication as a tribute to an artist 'who carried the Palestinian story to the stage, screen, and world'. Glick claims there is no justification for funding an institution that holds events in memory of 'terror supporters'. Minister Zohar's office stated that he acts against cultural entities that harm Israel's name, but clarified that the legal authority to stop support lies solely with the Finance Minister, according to clear criteria for incitement. The dispute raises a fundamental question about the responsibility of government ministries in funding controversial cultural institutions.