EDINBURGH FILM FEST WARNS ISRAELI DIRECTOR NOT TO ATTEND HIS FILM'S SCREENING

Edinburgh film festival warns Israeli director not to attend film's screening (Haaretz/Reuters)
Israeli director Yoav Shamir said Thursday he has been advised by organizers of the Edinburgh film festival in Scotland not to attend the screening of his new work due to Israel's offensive in Lebanon.

Shamir's previous films include the critically acclaimed documentary "Checkpoint," which showed the daily travails facing Palestinians at crossings in occupied territory interspersed with interviews with Israeli military personnel.

In an email seen by Reuters, Shamir was informed by the organizers that due to expected protests over Israel's attacks on Lebanon, "it might be in your best interest not to attend the festival this year for your own sake, rather than for ours."

The organizers said they would continue with the screening of Shamir's new documentary, "Five Days." It chronicles Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip last year from the viewpoints of settlers, the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinians.