"The Cameri Tel Aviv Municipal Theater has turned into a
weapon for incitement to murder as well as de-legitimization
of Israel's chareidi and religious public," according to the
leaders of the Manof Center for Jewish Information. This was
stated in a complaint filed by Manof with the Israel Police,
the Attorney General, the President of the State of Israel,
the Prime Minister, members of Knesset and other public
figures.
The complaint called for the opening of a criminal
investigation against journalist Mati Golan, producer Oded
Kotler and the heads of the Cameri Theater for presenting a
play containing incitement to murder the chareidi
population.
The complaint followed the opening of a new Cameri production
called "Closed," written by Mati Golan. The play depicts the
murder of the prime minister and his wife and a takeover of
the State of Israel by chareidim, resulting in a nuclear
catastrophe. The chareidim's supposed purpose: to hasten the
Moshiach.
Many people who saw the play called Manof to complain that
the play contains incitement against the chareidi public. One
woman noted that "the play calls for the murder of
chareidim."
The Manof complaint states, "The play constitutes an
escalation unprecedented in either magnitude or malice. It
follows the traditional Cameri lines of promoting hatred of
chareidim through characters in the play; relates to
chareidim as evildoers personified; uses stereotypes and
generalities as good as the classic techniques of those who
hate the Jewish people.
"This play," the complaint states, "is likely to lead to
dangerous acts by fringe elements in the secular public. As a
public body, the Cameri Theater must not be allowed to
perform it. A criminal investigation must be opened against
the theater whose plays have strayed from the area of
artistic freedom of expression into the realm of criminal
acts requiring intervention. This is a matter of acts
prohibited by law: rebellion, incitement and bigotry. The law
dealing with rebellion states that, `one who provokes
contention and hatred between different parts of the
population' is liable to five years imprisonment. In
addition, we are dealing with an illegal act of loshon
hora; the law states that it is prohibited to publicize
something, `liable to denigrate someone in the eyes of other
people or to turn him into an object of hatred, contempt or
mockery.' "
Manof's investigators note that the Cameri Theater, a public
body supported by public funds to the tune of tens of
millions of shekalim annually, has a unique history of
presentation of anti-religious plays. In the last decade
alone, the Cameri has presented more than ten plays which
bear a message of extreme antisemitism. Their stereotyping of
Jews with payos and kapotes is frightening.
"Unfortunately," the Manof complaint states, "in the last few
weeks there has been an escalation in expressions of verbal
and physical hatred against chareidim. It is sufficient to
mention the antisemitic pamphlet circulated by the Shinui
party last month containing the extreme positions of Shinui
MK Paritzky and Professor Hersger; arson of the synagogue in
Sde Boker, burning of mezuzas at the Bnei Akiva
clubhouse in Haifa; two instances of stabbing of chareidim by
secular Jews in Bnei Brak two weeks ago; and the murder of
Rav Samet in Jerusalem. Undoubtedly, such events would not
pass quietly were it not for the fact the hatred of chareidim
in Israel enjoys the support of some of the State's
political, social and cultural institutions."
Manof has also appealed to the director of the Israel
Broadcasting Authority, the director of the Radio
Broadcasting Services and to members of the Broadcasting
Authority's governing body to prevent the play's author, Mati
Golan, from broadcasting his regular program of critique of
the media. "We will be truly astounded if the Broadcasting
Authority continues to employ a journalist who wrote such a
distorted, hate-filled play as someone who presents a program
dealing with media ethics," Manof noted.
Concomitant to this, Manof has also appealed to governmental
bodies to cease their financing of the Cameri Theater. They
have appealed to the Tel Aviv Municipality -- owner of the
Theater -- to the Ministry of Education, and to the Ministry
of Science, Culture and Sports. In addition, they have asked
Mifal Hapayis, the national lottery, to cease its financial
support of the Theater as well as to halt its current
building plan that will cost millions of shekalim. "It
is quite sad that the chareidim have become a punching bag
and the subject of antisemitic attacks in the Cameri
Theater," the Manof spokesmen say. "Freedom of speech does
not mean freedom to incite. Freedom of artistic expression
does not mean freedom for bigotry."
The heads of Manof have promised that if the play is not
stopped, they will appeal to the High Court.
