Entebbe film: Arab protest

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 6

Entebbe film: Arab protest

NZPA-Reuter Tokyo Five Arab countries have protested to the Japanese I Government about the 1 screening of the film, “Victory at Entebbe,” which depicts Israeli commandos freeing hijacked hostages in a raid on Uganda’s airport last July. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said that the Ambassadors of Algeria, Iraq, Egypt. Sudan, and the United Emirates described the film as “Israeli propaganda,” which could affect relations between Japan and the Arab world. The Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Zentaro Kosaka) had replied that he could not stop distribution of the film because the Japanese Constitution allows freedom of expression and business, the official said. The film, which stars Burt Lancaster and Elizabeth Taylor, will be shown at 65 cinemas throughout Japan starting on December 25. It will have its world premiere in Auckland tomorrow and will open in Christchurch on Christmas Eve. The Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mr J. V. Scott) said in Wellington last evening that he did not know of any protests in New Zealand against the film. It will be screened in Auckland this week-end and other New Zealand cinemas from December 24. In the Philippines, the board of censors has suspended permission to Show the film after protests from Arab countries.