59 Palestinians in Gaza killed by Israeli airstrikes or shot dead while seeking aid
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Forbes
4 minutes ago
- Forbes
Blockbuster 'Superman' Sparks Another ‘Woke' Debate—Between Ben Shapiro, Hasan Piker, Others
Whether 'Superman,' DC's new blockbuster that made a splash at the box office this weekend, serves as a metaphor for Middle East unrest has animated political figures on the right and left—from Ben Shapiro to Hasan Piker—despite the director denying any direct reference. Director James Gunn denied the movie is a metaphor for conflicts in the Middle East. (Photo by Samir ... More Hussein/WireImage) Samir Hussein/WireImage Left- and right-wing 'Superman' viewers have debated whether the conflict between fictional nations Boravia and Jarhanpur, in which Superman stops the more powerful Boravia from invading the poorer and largely defenseless Jarhanpur, is a metaphor for Israel and Gaza. Hasan Piker, a left-wing Twitch streamer and YouTuber some tout as the left's answer to Joe Rogan, suggested Sunday night that Boravia could be an analogue for Israel, noting the fictional country is depicted as a military power and ally of the United States, while comparing its attempted takeover of Jarhanpur to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Piker objected to an earlier video by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who said the conflict portrayed in the movie does not compare to Israel and Gaza because it 'does not match up to the facts' and can only be seen that way by those with 'left-wing brain.' Shapiro said he does not think the movie has a political agenda, denying other theories the movie is pro-immigration, or offers commentary on Russia and Ukraine, saying these interpretations are caused by 'politics on the brain.' Conservative YouTuber Tim Pool also disagreed that the movie was a metaphor for the conflict in Gaza, pointing out the two countries are portrayed in the movie as a wealthier Eastern European nation and a poorer South Asian nation. Writer-director James Gunn has denied the movie is about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though he has admitted it has political undertones. 'When I wrote this the Middle Eastern conflict wasn't happening. So I tried to do little things to move it away from that, but it doesn't have anything to do with the Middle East,' Gunn told Gunn said the movie depicts an 'invasion by a much more powerful country run by a despot into a country that's problematic in terms of its political history, but has totally no defense against the other country,' which he said 'really is fictional.' Gunn admitted the movie is 'about politics,' but said the movie is largely about morality and kindness. Gunn told previously sparked controversy after telling The Sunday Times Superman is an 'immigrant that came from other places,' stating 'Superman is the story of America.' What Have Critics Said About The Politics Of 'superman?' Film critic G. Allen Johnson wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle it is 'chilling how many scenes reflect current reality,' calling the Boravia-Jarhanpur conflict 'very reminiscent of the Israel-Hamas conflict.' William Bibbiani, a critic for The Wrap, said Gunn may have written a fictional conflict between made-up nations for the film, but 'but we know he's talking about' the war in Gaza. Mashable critic Siddhant Adlakha said the movie has 'unavoidable parallels' to Israel-Hamas. 'Superman' has been branded as 'woke' by some conservative critics over Gunn's immigration comments. A Fox News chyron that aired last week called the movie 'Superwoke,' as guest Kellyanne Conway said people 'don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us.' Superman, however, has long been described by fans and critics as an immigrant. Central to his story is his birth on the dying planet Krypton and his arrival as an outsider to Kansas, and the creators of the comic, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, are children of European Jewish immigrants. Frank Miller, a comic book artist who has written Superman comics, said in 2019 he aimed to 'portray Superman as the ultimate immigrant' in his comic series, 'Superman: Year One.' How Is 'superman' Faring At The Box Office? 'Superman' had a big opening weekend, grossing $122 million at the domestic box office and $217 million worldwide. The movie's success is a win for DC Studios, which has not had a box office hit in years. The studio faced back-to-back flops with 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' 'The Flash' and 'Blue Beetle,' as well as the critically panned 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,' which had a moderate box office performance. 'Superman' received positive reviews, scoring an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of DC's better-reviewed films in recent years. 'Superman' continues a hot streak for the summer box office, which has seen consecutive hits including 'Jurassic World: Rebirth,' 'F1' and 'How To Train Your Dragon.' Further Reading Superman's An Immigrant? Director James Gunn Faces Right-Wing Backlash For Claim (Forbes) 'Superman' Makes Huge $22.5 Million Debut—Can It Revive The DC Film Franchise? (Forbes)
Hamilton Spectator
10 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Leaders of Holy Land churches condemn Israeli settler violence during a West Bank visit
TAYBEH, West Bank (AP) — Top church leaders in the Holy Land asserted Monday that Israeli authorities 'facilitate and enable' the presence of Israeli settlers who have intensified attacks in recent weeks on the only entirely Christian Palestinian village remaining in the occupied West Bank. Speaking in the village, Taybeh, on a rare solidarity visit, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa denounced an incident last week when settlers set fires near the community's church. They alleged that Israeli authorities failed to respond to emergency calls for help from the Palestinian community. In a separate statement, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem demanded an investigation into the incident and called for the settlers to be held accountable by the Israeli authorities, 'who facilitate and enable their presence around Taybeh.' The church leaders also claimed that settlers had brought their cattle to graze on Palestinian lands in the area, set fire to several homes last month and put up a sign reading 'there is no future for you here.' Israel's military did not immediately respond to the allegations. It has previously said it takes action against outlaw settlers and that many incidents of settler violence involve stone-throwing and clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank , with the Israeli military targeting militants in large-scale operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands . That has coincided with a rise in settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Palestinian militants have attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank. Pizzaballa, the top Catholic cleric in Jerusalem, said he believed the West Bank was becoming a lawless area. 'The only law (in the West Bank) is that of power, of those who have the force, not the law. We must work for the law to return to this part of the country, so anyone can appeal to the law to enforce their rights,' Pizzaballa told reporters. He and Theophilos prayed together in the church of St. George, whose religious site dates back centuries, adjacent to the area where settlers ignited the fires. The statement from the heads of churches comes as Palestinians report a surge of settler violence. On Sunday, hundreds descended on the village of Al-Mazraa a-Sharqiya, south of Taybeh, for the funeral of two young men killed during a settler attack on Friday. The Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian territories has dwindled as a percentage of the overall population over the decades, with experts citing lower birthrates and emigration by people fleeing conflict or seeking better opportunities abroad. Christians now make up a tiny percentage of the population. ___ Associated Press senior producer Jalal Bwaitel in Ramallah contributed. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
17 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Leaders of Holy Land churches condemn Israeli settler violence during a West Bank visit
TAYBEH, West Bank (AP) — Top church leaders in the Holy Land asserted Monday that Israeli authorities 'facilitate and enable' the presence of Israeli settlers who have intensified attacks in recent weeks on the only entirely Christian Palestinian village remaining in the occupied West Bank. Speaking in the village, Taybeh, on a rare solidarity visit, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa denounced an incident last week when settlers set fires near the community's church. They alleged that Israeli authorities failed to respond to emergency calls for help from the Palestinian community. In a separate statement, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem demanded an investigation into the incident and called for the settlers to be held accountable by the Israeli authorities, "who facilitate and enable their presence around Taybeh.' The church leaders also claimed that settlers had brought their cattle to graze on Palestinian lands in the area, set fire to several homes last month and put up a sign reading 'there is no future for you here.' Israel's military did not immediately respond to the allegations. It has previously said it takes action against outlaw settlers and that many incidents of settler violence involve stone-throwing and clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military targeting militants in large-scale operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. That has coincided with a rise in settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Palestinian militants have attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank. Pizzaballa, the top Catholic cleric in Jerusalem, said he believed the West Bank was becoming a lawless area. 'The only law (in the West Bank) is that of power, of those who have the force, not the law. We must work for the law to return to this part of the country, so anyone can appeal to the law to enforce their rights,' Pizzaballa told reporters. He and Theophilos prayed together in the church of St. George, whose religious site dates back centuries, adjacent to the area where settlers ignited the fires. The statement from the heads of churches comes as Palestinians report a surge of settler violence. On Sunday, hundreds descended on the village of Al-Mazraa a-Sharqiya, south of Taybeh, for the funeral of two young men killed during a settler attack on Friday. The Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian territories has dwindled as a percentage of the overall population over the decades, with experts citing lower birthrates and emigration by people fleeing conflict or seeking better opportunities abroad. Christians now make up a tiny percentage of the population.
