Jerusalem Municipality Defends Funding Amid Museum Cinema Controversy
Jerusalem faces a controversy as B'Tsalmo demands the eviction of the Museum on the Seam over a cinematic event, while the municipality denies funding the screening.
A controversy has erupted in Jerusalem over an event dedicated to Palestinian cinema hosted at the Museum on the Seam, a facility supported by municipal funds. The organization B'Tsalmo has demanded that the municipality evict the museum, citing expired allocations and past political events.
The scheduled event features a series of screenings titled "Seam Cinema," focusing on contemporary works. According to details obtained by media reports, the B'Tsalmo human rights organization sent an official letter to Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and the municipal allocation committee, demanding the museum be removed from the city-owned property.
The organization claims that the museum's allocation permit has expired and that the property, originally designated for community activities and veteran commemoration, has hosted controversial exhibitions in the past, including events concerning the Nakba and depictions of the IDF. B'Tsalmo also alleged that a solidarity events space was established in the courtyard in violation of the original allocation terms.
In response, the Jerusalem Municipality rejected the allegations, stating that the event is not a festival, but rather the screening of a film by a Christian Arab director from Judea and Samaria. The municipality further stated that claims regarding past anti-IDF exhibitions are factually incorrect.
Regarding municipal funding, the city emphasized that financial support is granted to various professional cultural institutions recognized by the Ministry of Culture. The municipality clarified that it is not involved, directly or indirectly, in financing the specific event or determining its content.
