New Delhi, November 29
Ambassador of Israel Naor Gilon has sought to calm the social media storm that has erupted in India after an Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid criticised Vivek Agnihotri’s film “The Kashmir Files” as “propaganda”.
“As a human being I feel ashamed and want to apologise to our hosts for the bad manner in which we repaid them for their generosity and friendship,” said an open letter to Lapid posted by Gilon, who regretted that the filmmaker had walked away after making the comments, leaving the diplomats to face hate mail.
Criticising Lapid, the Ambassador wrote: “You will go back to Israel thinking that you are bold and made a statement. We, the representatives of Israel, would stay here. You should see our DM (direct message) boxes following your “bravery” and what implications it may have on the team under my responsibility.” The envoy also spoke against India social media users, who in retaliation have started doubting the Holocaust. “As a son of a holocaust survivor, I was extremely hurt to see reactions in India to you that are doubting “Schindler’s List”, the Holocaust and worse. I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here.
