Prominent Jews accuse Royal Court play of demonising Israelis

A coalition of prominent British Jews has condemned the Royal Court Theatre for showing a play that is said to demonise Israelis.

In a letter published in today's Daily Telegraph, they claim the production of Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza reinforces "false stereotypes" by portraying Israeli parents as "inhuman triumphalists" who teach their children that "Arabs must be hated".

The leading figures from the Jewish community accuse the theatre in Sloane Square, west London, of being "unbalanced" by staging a play critical of Jews after its associate director, Ramin Gray, admitted recently that he would be reluctant to put on a work that attacked Islam.

They also accuse the playwright, Caryl Churchill, of writing a play that is "historically inaccurate" by depicting a one-sided view of the conflicts between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

More than 60 leading British Jews have put their names to the letter including Professor Geoffrey Alderman, the Michael Gross Professor of Modern History at the University of Buckingham; Ronald Harwood, the Oscar-winning screenwriter; Lord Janner of Braunstone, the Labour peer; Maureen Lipman, the actress; Tracy-Ann Oberman, who starred in EastEnders; and several rabbis.

Their intervention comes after The Board of Deputies of British Jews called the play "horrifically anti-Israel", as the Telegraph disclosed last week, and the Jewish Chronicle claimed it was anti-Semitic.

The 10-minute play, which closes on Saturday, was written in response to the recent conflict in Gaza and purports to tell the history of Israel through a series of dialogues between Jewish adults about what they should tell their children. It ends with a collection for the charity Medical Aid For Palestinians.

The theatre admitted the play was critical of Israel but denied this meant that it was anti-Semitic.

A spokesman said: "Some concerns have been raised that the Royal Court's production of Seven Jewish Children, by Caryl Churchill is anti-Semitic.

"We categorically reject that accusation and furthermore would urge people to see this play before they judge it.

"While Seven Jewish Children is undoubtedly critical of the policies of the state of Israel, there is no suggestion that this should be read as a criticism of Jewish people. It is possible to criticise the actions of Israel without being anti-Semitic.

"In keeping with its philosophy, the Royal Court Theatre presents a multiplicity of viewpoints. The Stone, which is currently running before Seven Jewish Children, at 7.30pm, asks very difficult questions about the refusal of some modern Germans to accept their ancestors' complicity in Nazi atrocities. Shades, currently in our smaller studio theatre, is a play set in contemporary London which explores issues of tolerance in the Muslim community."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/4691647/Prominent-Jews-accuse-Royal-Court-play-of-demonising-Israelis.html