Mayor Miami Beach defends Push to hold an anti-Israeli doctor from the city theater

Exclusively – The leader of the city of southern Florida caught up under fire from Free speech advocates To attempt to retain the award-winning documentary “No other country” from the City-owned theater, but Mayor Miami Beach Steven Meiner believes that the film is potentially dangerous anti-Israeli propaganda.
“When there is propaganda, it often ends up with violence and murder. So, we have to understand that propaganda and one -sided hatred very seriously,” said Mayor Meiner Fox News Digital.
Meiner has made international titlesmany of them negative, complaining to “no other country” that is not displayed on O cinemaLocated inside the old town hall Miami Beach. The mayor said he wrote a letter to the Cinema Vivian Marthell Executive Director, who expresses concern about the documentary, which is shown in the theater on the Government estate that receives the funding of Gratovi from Miami Beach. Initially, she agreed, but withdrew and examined “any other country” anyway.
Miami Beach has the opportunity to terminate the contract that he remains at the old town hall with 180 days of notification, and Meiner wants to give the theater boot over the decision. Critics, such as the International Documentary Association, have condemned Mener’s threatsuggesting that this is a clear violation of free speech, but the mayor sees it differently.
A tribute because Israel hits Gaza after Hamas refused to let go hostage, the officials say
Mayor Miami Beach Steven Meiner claims that the documentary “No other country” is Anti-Israeli Propaganda. (Fox News Digital/Stephane de Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images)
“If you are going to show one such movie,” No other country “, it is, you know, a one -sided propaganda piece. You know, show another movie showing both sides of the release,” Meiner said.
“I watched the movie. I am a solid believer in freedom of speech. But we, like the country, I think we did really good … because the movement for civil rights, emphasizing hatred and propaganda where it exists,” Meiner continued. “And this is the perfect example that this movie is a unilateral propaganda hit piece that omits some incredibly important facts that change the whole context of the movie.”
Meiner, who is an Orthodox Jew, believes that “no other country” “disturbing in many aspects” and is filled with anti -Semitic rhetoric. The film, which won Oscar 2025 for the best documentary, made by two Israelites and two Palestinians, advertised to “show the destruction of Masafer on the western coast of Israeli soldiers.”
However, Meiner claims that the key context is left out of the project.
“What the Movie don’t tell you is the There’s a Long History Here. And Actally, Under the Os free Accords, Israel Had the Right to the ProPerty. It was actully a military training zone for decades, whan it was vacant, it was an. HAD WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT With Bedouin arabs, WHO ISRAEL HAS A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WI, THAT THERE CAN CONTINUE DOING THEIR SHEEP AND BRINGING THEOR ANIMALS there, “Meiner Said.
Palestinian director Basel Adra and Israeli director Yuval Abraham are posing during the photo session “There is no other land” in Paris on October 29, 2024. (Photo Stephane de Sakutin / AFP / Getty)
“But ultimately, the Palestinians began to build homes to create this issue of the wedge,” he added. “And ultimately, Israel did not only go with their army. They went to court, and they went to the Supreme Court of Israel, which often ruled against the Israelites. But in this case it was so clear that it was a military training zone that was illegally occupied by this Palestinian, so the Israeli army could withdraw those who could have commanded it.”
Meiner said the situation is related to Mexican immigrants crossing the southern border of the United States and building homes in a US military basis.
“I wouldn’t let that, nor should I Israel, but the movie doesn’t tell you that,” he said.
Meiner believes that the support for the movie is simply the latest example of a clear “double standard” when it comes to the Jewish people.
“I firmly believe that if this was a movie that was racist against blacks or an attack on the LGBTQ community, I think you would have a different reaction than it was against Jewish people,” Meiner said.
The mayor insists that there is no problem being shown in private theaters, but it is on town ownership Cinema and is subsidized partly with Grant financing. He says “propaganda” is not welcome to the old town hall Miami Beach.
“This is a government property with government funding and this is the nature of the concerns that I initially set up,” he said.
The Cinema is located within the old town hall Miami Beach. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
Meiner said he would “love” to see Cinema’s screen documentary showing the horrific acts of attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023 on Israel. In fact, it is open to change the opinion on the lease of the theater if it turns and shows a Pro-Israeli film. Meanwhile, Meiner does not mind the attention created by his controversial decision.
“I represent everything in Miami Beach and I certainly do not want to say that I represent all Jewish people. There are many different views, but I can tell you that I definitely hit the nerves and that crosses religious lines. Crossing the political parties lines,” Meiner said.
“I received support from many groups, but certainly in the Jewish community … They said they were very proud of what I did,” he continued. “I highlighted this double standard.”
Mener’s move has attracted wide criticism that he has violated the first amendment, and one of the documentary directors, Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, said the New York Times The mayor abused the term “anti -Semitism” to smear the movie.
Marthell also said Associated Press Her initial reaction to Mener’s letter was “made under the coercion” and later decided to portray the movie.
“No other country” won the best documentary film at the Academy awards in March. (Photo Arturo Holmes/Wireimage)
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“After considering wider implications on freedom of speech and a mission about Cinema, I (together with the Cinema Department and the staff members) agreed that it was crucial to show this valued movie,” Marthell told AP.
“We understand the power of the cinema to tell stories that are important, and we recognize that some stories, in the middle of those rooted in the real world conflicts, will arouse strong feelings and passionate reactions. As they should,” Marthell continued. “Our decision to show” no other country “is not a statement of political alignment. It is a brave confirmation of our fundamental belief that every voice deserves to be heard.”
Over 600 filmmakers, including Michael Moore, signed a letter asking the Commissioner Miami Beach to reject the eviction ahead of the expected vote on Wednesday, Axios reported.
“For half a decade, Basel Adra, Palestinian activist, records his community of Masafer Yatta, who has destroyed the interest of Israel, since it builds a unlikely alliance with a journalist on the other hand that joins his struggle,” a description of the documentary Reads about Rotten Tomatoes. He received a broad confession, earning the perfect 100% rating Rotten Tomatoes, which meant that each critic had given a positive review.