Statement on the Film "Miral"

March 17, 2011

J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement in response to attacks on the film Miral, director Julian Schnabel, and Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of the Weinstein Company:

J Street is deeply troubled by recent attacks on Harvey Weinstein and Julian Schnabel, as well as on their new film Miral.

It is not our place to take a position on the film as art. However, we believe strongly in the role artistic expression has to play in bringing to attention complex histories and opening up difficult but necessary dialogues both within and between our communities.

Arguing against the distribution or screening of Miral does a disservice not only to this sort of public discourse, but also stands against the values and traditions of rigorous and civil debate that underpin our Jewish community.

We oppose any efforts to limit Miral‘s distribution, as we would with any artistic effort to tell the important Israeli-Palestinian story from either people’s perspectives. We encourage broad engagement with the film and believe that only by understanding “the other’s” narrative can the groundwork be laid for a lasting resolution of the conflict and true peace and security for generations to come.

Miral opens in New York and Los Angeles on March 25th.