Lebanon has banned showings of the superhero movie Wonder Woman because its leading actress Gal Gadot is Israeli.
The country's Ministry of Economy issued the ban hours before the movie was to premiere in Beirut, The Guardian reports, because Lebanon is officially at war with Israel.
The feature, which stars Tel Aviv-born Gal Gadot, has been branded "the Israeli Soldier film" by the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gadot completed compulsory military service, serving as a combat trainer in the Israeli Defence Force from the age of 18.
Lebanon's Grand Cinemas chain announced the news on Twitter after the film had already been promoted around the country.
The Ministry previously wanted to ban DC's 2016 movie Batman v Superman, in which Wonder Woman also appears, on the same basis, but was unsuccessful, the BBC says.
While the two nations are officially at war they have observed a ceasefire since 2006, apart from the occasional border clash.
The 2006 fighting killed roughly 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mainly troops fighting inside Lebanon.
Tony Chacra, managing director of the movie distributor Joseph Chacra & Sons, said it was "frustrating" as the film has "nothing to do with Israel". The movie had already passed Lebanon's normal screening procedures.
"It cost money and advertising...Everything was going normally until a few days ago when a campaign began," Chacra told Reuters.
Gadot has expressed support for Israel's forces since her time in the army, The Independent reports, notably when it led a 2014 offensive in Gaza.
"I am sending my love and prayers 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...We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom!" she wrote on Facebook in 2014.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
What to know when filing a hurricane insurance claimThe Explainer A step-by-step to figure out what insurance will cover and what else you can do beyond filing a claim
-
How fees impact your investment portfolio — and how to save on them
The Explainer Even seemingly small fees can take a big bite out of returns
-
Enemy without
Cartoons
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
-
House of the Dragon: what to expect from the Game of Thrones prequel
Speed Read Ten-part series, set 200 years before GoT, will show the incestuous decline of Targaryen
-
One in 20 young Americans identify as trans or non-binary
Speed Read New research suggests that 44% of US adults know someone who is transgender
-
The Turner Prize 2022: a ‘vintage’ shortlist?
Speed Read All four artists look towards ‘growth, revival and reinvention’ in their work
-
What’s on TV this Christmas? The best holiday television
Speed Read From films and documentaries to musicals for all the family
-
Coco vision: up close to Chanel opticals
Speed Read Parisian luxury house adds opticals to digital offering
-
Explained: the row over Sally Rooney’s Israeli translation boycott
feature The author is refusing to sell rights to Israel-based publisher to print her latest novel in Hebrew
-
Archaeologists uncover massive, 1,500-year-old winemaking complex in Israel
Speed Read
