O Cinema dodged eviction, but resolution renews censorship fears
Miami Beach commissioners on Wednesday are expected to discuss a measure aimed at influencing programming at indie theater O Cinema.
The big picture: The discussion comes a little more than one month after the theater survived eviction over its decision to screen "No Other Land."
The Oscar-winning film documents the Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank for military training grounds, before the current conflict in Gaza.
The resolution, proposed by Mayor Steven Meiner, calls for the theater to program films that "highlight a fair and balanced viewpoint" of the Israel-Hamas war and to ensure the "viewpoint of Jewish people and the state of Israel is fully and accurately presented."
Why it matters: Critics argue the move undermines the theater's freedom of expression and causes a chilling effect on it and other art spaces.
Between the lines: The commission has previously been accused of silencing pro-Palestinian voices, including barring protesters from obstructing streets or sidewalks in response to demonstrations in the city.
Catch up quick: Last month, Meiner's attempt to evict the cinema — which operates in a city-owned facility — and pull about $40,000 in city grants sparked international outrage.
Supporters of O Cinema packed a commission meeting, calling the proposals an attempt to control the theater and a violation of free speech.
Commissioners who disagreed with Meiner shared his concerns about the dangers of antisemitism but said the government should not direct content decisions.
What they're saying:"The community has made it overwhelmingly clear that they do not want government influence in the types of films O Cinema shows," said Kareem Tabsch, the cinema's co-founder, in a statement to Axios.
The proposal "poses real concerns of government overreach into the independence of cultural organizations like O Cinema," he said.
Daniel Tilley, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said even after Meiner backed off the eviction threat, the "bell cannot be unrung."
Though the current resolution seeks to "encourage, not dictate" programming decisions, "the chill to O Cinema and other cultural institutions who dare to display or express disfavored viewpoints remains."
The other side: Meiner did not respond to Axios' request for comment Tuesday, but he previously called the film a "one-sided propaganda attack" on the Jewish people.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israeli officials to meet with Witkoff as tensions grow in Middle East
Senior Israeli officials plan to meet with a top U.S. envoy this week to clarify their government's views on Iran, an Israeli official said Thursday, as concerns grow that Israel may soon carry out military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The gathering is part of a flurry of conversations and moves taking place in Washington and the Middle East in response to the possibility of an Israeli attack — including the withdrawal of many U.S. diplomats from certain posts. The Israeli officials — Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and David Barnea, the chief of the Mossad spy agency — are expected to travel Friday. They'll see Steve Witkoff, a top envoy of President Donald Trump. The statement from the Israeli official did not say where the meeting would be held. Witkoff is expected to be in Oman on Sunday for nuclear talks with Iranian officials. On Wednesday, Israel's ambassador to the United States went to the White House for conversations, according to a person familiar with the events. A spokesperson for the White House declined to provide immediate comment. The Israeli official and the person familiar with the events were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the developments. Iran's defense minister also threatened Wednesday to strike American bases in the region if negotiations over Iran's nuclear program fail and conflict with the U.S. arises. The United States has been pulling many of its diplomats and their families out of key locations in the Middle East that could face threats if the long-simmering tensions between Iran and Israel erupt. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday also authorized the voluntary departures of the families and dependents of U.S. service members stationed at bases in the Middle East. Military personnel, however, will not be pulled at this time. The U.S. announced Thursday that its government employees and their families in Israel 'are restricted from traveling outside' the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva areas until further notice. 'The situation remains complex and may change rapidly,' the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement. Eli Stokols and Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israel's Netanyahu holds on to power, attempt to dissolve government falls short
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition have faced the most serious challenge to their power since Oct. 7 after a bill to dissolve parliament and call for early elections failed. This is more than a momentary victory: under Israeli law, the bill's failure means that no other proposal to dissolve the Knesset (parliament) can be introduced for six months, buying Netanyahu and his coalition some time. Netanyahu Coalition Threatened By Conscription Standoff With Religious Parties Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers had threatened to dissolve the government amid a deadlock over exemptions to military service. According to the Associated Press, most of the ultra-Orthodox members of the Knesset agreed to vote against the bill after reaching a compromise with MK Yuli Edelstein, who leads the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Discussions about the new draft law will reportedly continue over the coming week. Edelstein has been a vocal opponent of any bill that would enshrine the ultra-Orthodox military service exemption into Israeli law, according to the Times of Israel. Netanyahu Accuses Israeli Police Of Trying To 'Topple' His Government Read On The Fox News App While Israel requires citizens to enlist in the military at age 18, several groups are exempt—including the ultra-Orthodox community, also known as Haredim—which makes up roughly 13% of Israeli society, according to the Associated Press. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have Haredi units, which allow soldiers to follow religious traditions more strictly than other parts of the army. However, many Haredim choose to study Torah instead. Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the government "spat in the faces" of Israeli soldiers and "sold out our troops" with the compromise, the Times of Israel reported. The outlet added that Edelstein stated that the only way to get an "effective bill like this leading to an expansion of the IDF's conscription base" would be through his committee. The issue of religious exemption has been a debate among Israelis for decades, but it has become especially heated since Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre. Israel is currently fighting the longest war in its history as the country marks 20 months of its ground operation in Gaza. Israelis from all walks of life have been called up to the reserves throughout the war, fueling frustration with the Haredi community's article source: Israel's Netanyahu holds on to power, attempt to dissolve government falls short
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Family pleads for the release of a Nepali student abducted by Hamas
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The family of a Nepali man taken captive by the Palestinian militant group Hamas appealed Thursday to his captors for his release, stressing that he has no involvement in the conflict in Gaza. Bipin Joshi, now 25, was among 17 Nepali students studying agriculture in southern Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Joshi had worked hard in a government competition to earn a spot to study in Israel, his 17-year-old sister Pushpa Joshi said Thursday in Kathmandu. He arrived in southern Israel just three weeks before the attack. It was his first time out of Nepal. 'Bipin Joshi is an innocent agriculture student,' Pushpa Joshi said. 'He is a student who has a long life ahead of him, who is just 25 years now.' Militants killed 10 of the Nepali students in the attack and injured six. Joshi saved multiple lives by tossing a live grenade out of the bomb shelter where they were hiding, his sister said, before he was abducted and taken to Gaza. His family hasn't had a sign of life from him since Israel obtained security footage from a hospital in Gaza showing Joshi, so they know Joshi was taken alive to Gaza, but have no information about him since then. Pushpa, who was 15 when her brother was kidnapped, lives with their parents in a town in western Nepal. She travels eight hours each direction on buses to Kathmandu regularly to lobby officials to secure her brother's release. She has met the country's prime minister and president several times. Nepal's government says it has repeatedly sought help from Qatari and Egyptian officials to get Joshi freed. 'He is alive and we believe from the bottom of our hearts that he for sure is going to come back all safe and sound,' Pushpa said. 'We have big hopes that he will be back.' Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages in the Oct. 7 attack. They are still holding 53 hostages, around 20 them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages from Gaza and recovered dozens of bodies, including five over the past week. In the ensuing conflict, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed 'doubts' about whether several hostages are still alive. None of the previously released hostages have seen Bipin Joshi recently during their captivity. His parents are constantly monitoring news about the Gaza conflict, and get their hopes up whenever they see signs of a hostage release. 'News is always on, all day from the morning to night, at our house,' Pushpa Joshi said. They also are in contact with families of other Nepalis who were killed or injured in the attack, though Joshi is the only Nepali hostage. Pushpa said her brother is her best friend, and that they would often learn, sing and dance together while their parents were at work. 'In rainy season like now, we used to get wet in the rain and dance,' she said. He studied diligently to earn the scholarship to study agriculture in Israel, she said. The exchange program at Kibbutz Alumim was close to the Gaza border in a major agricultural area. Nepalese go to Israel for both education and employment, to learn the country's advanced agricultural techniques. Agriculture is the backbone of Nepal's economy, and the primary source of income for more than 60% of the population. —- Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman contributed from Jerusalem.
