New Delhi: Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s statement on the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ created a controversy. He called the film ‘propaganda’ and ‘vulgar’. Obviously there had to be an objection to this. Then Israel has started dramage control only 24 hours after this statement to maintain its friendship with India. Within 24 hours of the statement, Israel’s ambassador Naor Gilon said, ‘Shame on you Lapid,’ and demanded an apology from India.
Let us tell you that the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is going on in Goa. Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid has made this statement here regarding ‘The Kashmir Files’. He said, ‘We were all shocked and disturbed after seeing the Kashmir files. We found this film propaganda and vulgar.
The film’s director Vivek Agnihotri and actor Anupam Kher also reacted to Lapid’s statement, saying ‘Truth is the most dangerous thing, because it can lie to people.’ At the same time Anupam Kher said, ‘Truth always wins over lies.’ ‘The Kashmir Files’ was released on March 11 this year. The film showed atrocities on Kashmiri Hindus, especially Pandits, in the 90s. The film earned more than 340 crores. The film was screened at IFFI on 22 November.
Who is Nadan Lapid?
Nadav Lapid is one of Israel’s greatest filmmakers. He joined the film festival as a jury head. He made this statement on Kashmir files at the closing ceremony of the festival on Monday. He said he was upset and surprised to see the screening of The Kashmir Files at the film festival. Lapid said, it was not suitable for a film festival.
What did the Israeli ambassador say?
As soon as Lapid’s statement came out, his criticism has also started. This statement also went viral on social media. Following this, Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon wrote a lengthy post on Twitter, in which he apologized to India for the statement. Gillon wrote, ‘An open letter to Nadav Lapid. I am not writing this in Hebrew, because I want my Indian brothers and sisters to understand. This letter is a bit long, so let me make this point first – shame on you.
Gillon went on to explain why Lepidus should be ashamed. He wrote, ‘In Indian culture the guest is considered as God. You misused the Indian invitation to chair the panel of judges. You have insulted the faith, honor and hospitality of India. He wrote, ‘I can understand your habit of looking back to justify your behaviour, but I don’t understand why after this you told a news channel that we both have commonalities and are fighting the same enemy and a bad neighbour. stay Gillon wrote that ‘I don’t know much about films, but it is presumptuous and insensitive to speak without studying historical events in depth. This is the open wound of India which is still fresh and people are paying the price even today.
He further wrote that ‘I have an advice for you. As you have done in the past, openly criticize what you don’t like in Israel, but don’t take your anger out on other countries. You will go back to Israel thinking that you are ‘bold’ and have spoken openly, but we Israeli representatives will remain here. Our team will pay for your ‘brave’ statement.
Gillon concluded, ‘The friendship between India and Israel is very strong and we will repair the damage you have done. I feel ashamed and apologize to host India for your bad manners, as we have reciprocated their generosity and friendship in this way.
The Israeli consulate also apologized
Anupam Kher held a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday. Israeli Consul General Kobi Shoshani was also present in this conference. Shoshani said, ‘The first thing I called my friend Anupam Kher after waking up in the morning was to apologize. This was a personal opinion for which I apologize. Israel has nothing to do with it formally or informally.
How special is the ‘friendship’ of India and Israel?
A year after India’s independence, the land of Palestine was partitioned and Israel was born in 1948. India was against it. In 1949, when the United Nations voted on Israel’s admission, India was against it. However, Israel was also included.
The next year on 17 September 1950, India recognized Israel. Israel opened its consulate in Mumbai the following year. After 42 years i.e. in 1992 diplomatic relations were formally established between India and Israel and embassies of both the countries were also opened. However, the friendship between the two countries dates back to the 60s.
It is said that Israel provided military assistance to India in 1962, 1965 and 1971. Not only this, when Bangladesh was formed in 1971, Israel was the first country to recognize it. Although India also had relations with Arab countries, it could not openly express its friendship with Israel. First Jawaharlal Nehru and later his daughter Indira Gandhi, who became Prime Minister, lived close to Palestine. Relations between the two countries warmed when Rajiv Gandhi met the Prime Minister of Israel at the United Nations in 1985.
This was the first meeting of the Indian Prime Minister with the Prime Minister of Israel. After establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, LK Advani visited Israel as a senior minister in 2000. Before him, Israeli President Ezer Weizmann visited India in 1997 and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2003. In October 2015, the then President Pranab Mukherjee also visited Israel. In July 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel. This was the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.
Business relations between India and Israel became close
India and Israel also have trade relations. Information on the website of the Indian Embassy in Israel states that Israel is India’s second largest trading partner in Asia and the ninth largest in the world. Since 1992 there has been trade between the two countries. In 1992, trade between India and Israel was $200 million, while in 2021, trade was over $7.86 billion. This does not include defense deals. Initially, diamonds and chemicals were traded between India and Israel.
However, in recent years, items such as electronic machinery, high-tech products, communication systems and medical systems are also being traded. As of June 2022, India has invested about $132 million in Israel. Whereas, from April 200 to March 2022, Israel has invested 271 million dollars in India.