Nazareth Screening of Controversial 1958 Riot Film Canceled by Police
The screening of a controversial propaganda film glorifying the 1958 Nazareth riots was canceled after police found the venue operated without a license.
The screening of the controversial propaganda film "The Concealed Intifada 1958" in Nazareth was canceled following reports and immediate intervention by law enforcement and civic organizations.
The film portrays Arab rioters who hurled stones at police officers in the city in May 1958 as heroes, framing the historic disturbances as a Palestinian uprising. The screening had been scheduled for Sunday at the Cinemaana Culture and Identity complex in Nazareth, with tickets sold online for 60 shekels despite the film lacking mandatory approval from the Israel Film Ratings Board.
Following a public outcry and reports in local media, Shay Glick, CEO of the B'Tsalmo human rights organization, filed an urgent legal petition through Attorney Michael Litwak to the Israel Police Northern District Commander and the Nazareth Station Commander, demanding the immediate cancellation of the event.
In response to the police inquiry, it was revealed that the venue hosting the event was operating without a valid business license. Consequently, the Israel Police prohibited the gathering, forcing organizers to scrap the screening.
Critics and legal representatives noted that the production constitutes an incitement to violence rather than a historical documentary. The trailer and promotional materials glorify participants in the 1958 riots, presenting stone-throwing against security forces as an act of resistance.
Directed by Werd Jraisy and slated as a 2026 production, the film features testimonies from ten participants aged 87 to 96. B'Tsalmo welcomed the cancellation, stating that no platform should be provided for the glorification of violence in the public sphere.
