Acre theater festival postponed

Municipality cites concerns over renewed clashes; MKs slam decision as giving in to violence.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFF
acre smashed window 224.88 (photo credit: Channel 10)
acre smashed window 224.88
(photo credit: Channel 10)
The Acre Municipality decided Friday to postpone the city's Festival of Alternative Theater, which was scheduled to take place on Succot, due to the Jewish-Arab riots over Yom Kippur. The municipality cited concerns over the possibility of renewed clashes when the thousands of Israelis visit the city. Acre Mayor Shimon Lancry said in a statement that in light of residents' anger, holding the festival would "show a lack of taste." Festival director Albert Ben-Shushan emphasized that the festival was not canceled altogether, but merely postponed. "The atmosphere is not conducive to holding a festival which is supposed to be one of celebration," he told Army Radio. "When it is all over and the dust has settled, we will decide what to do, but it is too early to make a decision." Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee chairman Ophir Paz-Pines said postponing the festival was a mistake. He said the festival had become an "impressive symbol of coexistence in Acre." "I recommend not to give in to violence, violent people or extremists, and that the Acre festival should take place this year despite the violence and maybe even because of it," Paz-Pines told Army Radio. Meretz faction head Zehava Gan-On also criticized the decision to postpone the festival, saying that the "rabble should not be given veto power. "The festival must go ahead in order to send out a message to extremists, both Jews and Arabs, that they cannot dictate the city's routine. It is a big test for police to ensure that the democratic rule of law prevails," she said. Meanwhile, police ordered the Israel Football Association to cancel all the weekend's matches in the city, including senior and youth league games. Paz-Pines will convene an emergency session of his Knesset committee on Sunday afternoon, with Lancry and top police officials expected to testify. Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.