After initial ban, Lebanon allows Spielberg’s movie ‘The Post’

The Lebanese government allowed the release of Steven Spielberg’s latest film, The Post, overturning a ban by the General Security Authority, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

The security body had on Monday announced it was banning the Hollywood thriller to comply with an Arab League boycott targeting supporters of Israel.

The pan-Arab body maintains a regional boycott of Israel, and blacklisted Spielberg after he donated $1m to Israel during its destructive 2006 war on Lebanon.

The two countries are still technically in a state of war.

After being accused of being critical of Israel in 2006, following the release of his movie Munich, Spielberg, who is Jewish American, told German magazine Der Spiegel: “If it became necessary, I would be prepared to die for the USA and for Israel.”

In a rare move, the interior ministry chose not to sign off on the decision by General Security, which in addition to controlling Lebanon’s borders, is responsible for censoring films, plays and books.

 

Read the whole story from Middle East Eye.

Featured image courtesy of 20th Century Fox