After the union of theater directors, the entire cultural world joins the war for democracy.
This morning (Wednesday) a letter was sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Culture and the Legal Advisor to the Government in which the world of culture joins the fight of all bodies against the constitutional revolution and the expected damage to democracy.
• "The government is legal - but not democratic": the union of theater directors against the legal reform
"We, the cultural and art organizations in Israel, express total opposition to the attempts of the legislative and executive authorities to weaken the judicial authority and, as a result, to bring about a coup d'état that changes the system of government and destroys the democratic nature of the State of Israel.
Demonstration initiated by Shaham, the organization of actors and actresses in Israel, about the state of culture during the Corona period in the HaBima Square last year, photo: Koko
"We believe that this causes a fatal injury to the national, social, security and economic strength of the country. Our role as cultural and art organizations in Israel is to maintain independence and scope for voices from diverse sectors, and to enable the promotion of freedom of expression and creativity, of equality and of critical discourse.
"Therefore, it is our duty to join the protest of other bodies that have already issued a call and block the moves that harm the independence of the judicial system and the authority of the court to protect the basic rights of every person without differences of religion, race and gender. Without the judicial system - we will all be subject to the good will of the government.
Minister of Culture Miki Zohar, photo: Oren Cohen
"As people of culture and as citizens of the country, we see before our eyes a disastrous reality that endangers the continuation of common life in this place, and threatens to destroy the moral values and the continued existence of Israel as a country that protects human dignity and freedom. We call on the government to stop promoting reforms that undermine democracy, and to act responsibly What is expected from elected officials towards all the citizens of the country and to hold a dialogue as broad as possible for the advancement of society in Israel," the letter reads.
The letter is signed by many bodies representing a wide cross-section of the world of culture, including: the Israel Cultural and Art Institutions Forum, Shachem - the organization of actors and actresses in Israel, AM - the Union of Israeli Artists, the Forum of Arab Cultural Associations, the Association of Museums and the Israel ICOM, the Association of Writers and the writers in Israel, the Film and Television Producers Association (AR), BTI - Directors Association, Plastic Artists Association, Film and Television Screenwriters Association, Playwrights Association, IB - Association of Independent Creators in Theater and Performing Arts, Choreographers Association, Felicia Center Blumenthal for Music - an umbrella organization for independent musicians, the Documentary Forum, the Israeli Association for Dance Research, Tslilim - the Union of Musicians and Musicians, the Forum of Filmmakers and Television Producers in Israel, the Association of Animation Professions, the Association of Curators and Curators, the Association of Stage Designers in Israel, Asitz Israel.
Ricky Bleich at a demonstration initiated by Shaham, the organization of actors and actresses in Israel, about the state of culture during the Corona period in the Bima square last year, photo: Koko
Danny Weiss, CEO of Meditech Holon and Chairman of the Cultural Institutions Forum: "The day the Court will be subordinated to the Government is the day when the only remedy against the tyranny of the government will be taken away from each and every one of us, the day when a license will be given for unrestrained legislation, for harming minorities and governmental corruption."
Ricky Bleich, chairman of Shaham, the organization of actors and actresses in Israel: "The moves promoted by the government in recent times are a real threat to Israeli democracy. In the violation of the balance between the authorities and the weakening of the gatekeepers, we see an opening for a real violation of freedom of expression and creativity and our freedom as citizens of the country As men and women of culture - our voice must be heard."
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