Palestinians are upset with past Facebook comment when Gadot said she was sending her “love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children.”

By i24NEWS

A movie theater in the Palestinian city of Ramallah has reportedly banned screenings of the new “Wonder Woman” film because it’s leading actress, Gal Gadot, is Israeli.

Gal Gadot – Selfie:Facebook

According to the local al-Hadath newspaper, Palestine Towers Cinema has made the decision not to screen the Hollywood blockbuster due to “political reasons related to the Israeli occupation and the Israeli actress starring in the film.”

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The head of Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the defense ministry body which oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, slammed the measure as showing “weakness and fear.”

“Apparently Palestine Towers Cinema in Ramallah fears that the audience will enjoy the excellent film ‘Wonder Woman,’ and cannot separate politics from an American film,” Major General Yoav (Poly) Mordechai wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.

“Boycotting the film shows only weakness and fear. One who is self-confident is not afraid of movies — even if it’s ‘Wonder Woman’ standing before him,” he wrote.

Gal Gadot appearing at IDF induction center. – Photo: Shaul Golan/Yedioth Ahronoth

The superhero flick, starring the Israeli former model, has held on to its number one spot on the US box office rankings after a bumper opening weekend, making it a welcome winner for the Warner Brothers studio, far outstripping the first weekend of rival studio Universal’s “The Mummy,” expected to scoop up a mere $30 million.

The film shattered cinematic glass ceilings by raking in over $100 million on its opening weekend — the largest ever opening for a female director.

The film has garnered strong reviews since its debut, with a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 93%.

A New York Times review said Gadot “has a regal, effortlessly charismatic screen presence.”

Gadot has spoken publicly about her time in the Israeli military.

Conscription to the army is compulsory in Israel and like many young women in the country Gadot spent two years in uniform.

During the summer of 2014 Gadot sparked a heated online debate about the summer’s fighting between Israel and Hamas when she posted a Facebook photo of herself and her daughter lighting Shabbat candles.

In an accompanying message, Gadot said she was sending her “love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children.”

View original i24NEWS publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/147649-170611-cinema-in-ramallah-bans-screenings-of-wonder-woman-due-to-israeli-star-report