Israeli director in Venice: Anti-Israel sentiment is justified

Israeli documentary filmmaker Avi Mograbi presented his short film "Helion" at the Venice Film Festival. The film explores the search for traces of the Arab village of Saffuriya, destroyed in 1948. Mograbi stated that anti-Israel sentiment in the world is justified due to the actions of the Israeli government, and appeared at the festival with a "Stop Genocide" badge.

Israeli documentary filmmaker Avi Mograbi presented his new short film "Helion" ("Wild Asparagus") at the Venice Film Festival. Screenings took place during the ceremony awarding a lifetime achievement award to actress Ellen Burstyn. The film was commissioned by the Venice Biennale, based on archival footage by Mograbi and his longtime Arab friend Ali. At the center of the plot is their search for traces of the Arab village of Saffuriya, destroyed in 1948, on the site of which Tzipori now stands. Instead of building remains, the friends find wild asparagus and engage in a dialogue about the conflict, the Nakba, and life in Israel. Mograbi noted that he has known Ali for about 40 years and considers the ability to listen to each other a key factor. The director, who moved to Portugal several years ago, admitted that he feels despair over the political situation, but this stimulates him to continue his creative work. At festival events, Mograbi appeared with a "Stop Genocide" badge. He stated that the applause of the audience is less important to him than real changes in the country's policy. According to Mograbi, he is ready to return to Israel when full equality with the Arab population is established there. Responding to a question about how he was treated at the festival, the filmmaker emphasized that he did not encounter hostility, adding that the existing anti-Israel sentiment in the world seems to him absolutely justified against the backdrop of the actions of the Israeli government.