Because of the connection to Israel: The boycott of "Spider-Man: A New Day"
As part of the campaign to boycott Israel in Lebanon, the Al-Akhbar newspaper published an article calling for a boycott of the film "Spider-Man: A New Day" — this follows the involvement of Israeli producer Avi Arad, one of the founders of Marvel. Among other things, it was written that Arad "rejected any criticism of Netanyahu and defended his conduct during the war."
Born in occupied Palestine: The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, affiliated with the terrorist organization Hezbollah, published an article today (Thursday) promoting a campaign to boycott supporters of Israel in Lebanon, including a boycott of "Spider-Man: A New Day" — the new Marvel Studios film expected to become one of the biggest cinematic hits of the summer. The reason for the call to boycott is the involvement of Israeli producer Avi Arad, one of the founders of Marvel, as well as what the campaign defines as his staunch defense of Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the Al-Akhbar article, the campaign is quoted as declaring:
"Do we want to support an entertainment project produced in partnership with people who have declared political positions supporting Israel?"
It was further noted that this refers to the positions of Arad, who was born in Ramat Gan, before immigrating to the United States. In the 90s, he acquired Marvel Studios in partnership with American-Israeli billionaire Isaac Perlmutter, who is considered a prominent supporter of US President Donald Trump. Arad did not hide his unconditional support, and in 2024 he sparked a political controversy following a harsh letter he published against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, after the latter criticized Benjamin Netanyahu and called for elections in Israel. In the open letter, Arad accused Schumer of 'treason' and claimed that his position aligns with pro-Palestinian elements in the Democratic Party.
It was further written in the article that the film's producer rejected any criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu and defended his conduct during the war. Additionally, the release of the new Marvel film occurs while the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip is approaching its third year, and in the shadow of continued hostilities in southern Lebanon.
