Acclaimed Palestinian Actor Mohammad Bakri Faces Jail Time in Israel for Documentary

Acclaimed Palestinian actor and director Mohammad Bakri is one Israel’s most well-known citizens. He has acted in over a dozen films made by Israeli and international directors including “Hanna K” by Costa-Gavras and is well-known as a stage actor and director. But since producing a documentary on Israel’s 2002 assault on the West Bank town of Jenin, Bakri has found himself virtually blacklisted in Israeli cinema, and now, he even faces possible jail time for making the film.

In April 2002, the Israeli military killed fifty-two Palestinians, flattened over 150 buildings, and closed off the camp for two weeks. Several human rights groups accused Israel of commiting war crimes. The United Nations suspended its fact-finding mission after Israel refused to allow them entry. Bakri’s documentary, “Jenin, Jenin” was one of the first to tell the stories of the town’s residents during the Israeli assault.

Excerpt of “Jenin, Jenin.” Despite receiving international acclaim, the film was initially banned in Israel until a reversal by the Israeli Supreme Court. Mohammad Bakri was then sued by five Israeli soldiers who were part of the military operation in Jenin. They allege that Bakri falsified information about them. The trial is set to begin next month.

Mohammad Bakri . Acclaimed Palestinian actor. In addition to “Jenin, Jenin,” Bakri is the director of “1948,” and most recently “Since You Left.”

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