Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 11-01-2018
Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has come under fire for welcoming and entertaining an Israeli delegation at his home in Mumbai, India.
Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai Yaakov Finkelstein thanked Bachchan for the warm hospitality in a tweet on January 9.
The post also included a photo of the Bollywood actor with the Israeli delegation.
“Thank you, @SrBachchan for opening your house & your heart for the staff of the Consulate of @israelinMumbai . We are humbled by the honour and the kind words you bestowed on #Israel. Appreciate your active role in the cooperation between #Bollywood & Israel.”
Thank you, @SrBachchan for opening your house & your heart for the staff of the Consulate of @israelinMumbai . We are humbled by the honour and the kind words you bestowed on #Israel. Appreciate your active role in the cooperation between #Bollywood & Israel. pic.twitter.com/QSxeAPOLfs
— Yaakov Finkelstein (@ykv_finkelstein) January 9, 2018
The post received severe criticism on social media.
Social cohesive activist Yusuf Abramjee tweeted: “So @SrBachchan supports Israel guilty or human right atrocities. Shame on you!!! @BDSsouthafrica,” While Ebrahim Sheik wrote: “It is very disappointing & sad to see that a very senior figure in India, venerated by many ppl of all faiths supporting such a cruel regime.”
So @SrBachchan supports Israel guilty or human right atrocities. Shame on you!!! @BDSsouthafrica https://t.co/wdDQzrgQGr
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 11, 2018
It is very disappointing & sad to see that a very senior figure in India, venerated by many ppl of all faiths supporting such a cruel regime
— Ebrahim Sheik (@ibisheik) January 11, 2018
BDS South Africa’s Muhammad Desai says they are disappointed to see someone of Bachchan’s stature entertain the Israeli delegation considering the atrocities committed against the Palestinians by the Israeli’s.
“This is also a direct result of Israel trying to find more friends when it’s increasingly isolated. Just recently we saw Johan Cusack, Mark Ruffalo and various other Hollywood actors coming to the aid of a singer (Lorde) in New Zealand that had cancelled their show in Israel.”
According to the Guardian, more than a hundred well-known writers, actors, directors and musicians pledged their support for Lorde who has now been branded a bigot in a full page advertisement in the Washington Post on January 1.
Desai says more awareness needs to be created about the Israeli/Palestinian issue.
“There is definitely a space in which we need to do more work and that is the cultural boycott and it is something on the 2018 agenda.”
Last year the African National Congress (ANC) at its 54th National Conference resolved to downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel, to a liaison office in order to give practical expression of support to the oppressed people of Palestine.”
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