Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner is proposing to evict an independent theater from its city-owned space and cut its funding after it screened “No Other Land,” an Oscar-winning documentary about Palestinian displacement in the West Bank.
Meiner, who is Jewish, is planning to revoke O Cinema’s lease and withdraw over $40,000 in city grant funding, labeling the film as antisemitic, which has sparked criticism from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian advocates. The proposal is set to be discussed at the city commission meeting on Wednesday.
“No Other Land” premiered at O Cinema, located in the Miami Beach Historic City Hall. Prior to the screening, Meiner contacted O Cinema CEO Vivian Marthell, urging her not to show the film.
Marthell initially complied with Meiner’s request due to concerns of antisemitic rhetoric but later decided to proceed with the screening in defense of free speech.
Meiner justified his actions by stating that the film’s content goes against the values of the city and its residents, emphasizing the need to prevent the dissemination of antisemitism.
“No Other Land” depicts the demolition of Palestinian villages in the West Bank and highlights the bond between Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, the co-directors of the film. Despite not having a U.S. distributor, the documentary won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Abraham criticized Meiner’s stance, accusing him of using the term antisemitism to suppress those opposing occupation and apartheid, which he considers dangerous.
Israeli officials, including culture minister Miki Zohar, have condemned the film as detrimental to the country, especially in light of recent events in Gaza.
The controversy in Miami Beach comes amidst national tensions surrounding free speech and pro-Palestinian activism, exemplified by the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia student activist facing legal action for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
While City Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez disagreed with Meiner’s approach, she acknowledged the film’s contentious content. Another commissioner, David Suarez, expressed support for Meiner’s legislation, emphasizing the city’s commitment to standing up for its Jewish population.
Miami Beach, known for its significant Jewish community, has recently grappled with incidents highlighting tensions in the region, including a hate crime against Israeli tourists.
Source: JTA