Netflix is being urged to withdraw the Jordanian film “Farha” amid claims that it promotes a “modern day blood libel”.
UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to David Hyman, chief legal officer at Netflix, urging the streaming giant to remove the film from their platform.
UKLFI argues that by showing this film, Netflix is contravening section 22 of the Public Order Act 1986 as it is likely to stir up racial hatred against Jews.
UKLFI’s letter says: “The film depicts unimaginable atrocities allegedly being committed by the Israeli army against local Palestinians during Israel’s Independence war of 1948.” “This film ignores historical reality, is insulting, and is likely to stir up racial hatred against the Jewish community. In doing so, it contravenes section 22 of the Public Order Act 1986 (which covers programme services).”
Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, said: “This film is already controversial in Israel, given its fictitious depiction of events in 1948. Now more than ever it is important that such fallacies are not broadcast to a mass audience and falsely presented as based on true events.
“This film will only serve to unfairly demonise the IDF and the state of Israel at a time of already severely inflamed tensions. More than that, it promotes a modern day blood libel, by showing Israeli soldiers leaving a newborn Palestinian baby to die on the ground. This is one of the oldest forms of anti-Semitism and has in the past been used to justify the persecution of Jews.”
Separately, a petition has been widely circulated online in recent weeks, urging Netflix to cancel the film, arguing that it promotes a “dangerous blood libel and incitement against the IDF that will lead to more antisemitism”.
The film has been shown on Netflix since December last year and has already angered politicians in Israel, with one minister describing it as “lies and libels”.
But a campaign for Netflix to withdraw the film has grown in recent weeks, arguing that it will inflame tensions at a time of already rising anti-Semitism.
