Film maker Ken Loach and George Galloway join growing protest

Internationally acclaimed film-maker Ken Loach issued a statement yesterday calling on fellow artists and film festival fans to stay away from the festival this year, “I’m sure many film makers will be as horrified as I am to learn that the Edinburgh International Film Festival is accepting money from Israel. The massacres and state terrorism in Gaza make this money unacceptable. With regret, I must urge all who might consider visiting the festival to show their support for the Palestinian nation, and stay away”.

George Galloway MP rebutted Atkinson’s accusations and echoed Loach’s call for a boycott, “If the film festival wants to continue to enjoy an outstanding international reputation it will not hesitate to return this tainted money to the Israeli embassy. I find it astonishing that a spokesperson for the festival accused those of us who want this money returned of ‘ghettoising’ film-makers. If there’s a prize for satire at the festival, contestants need to know that the result is a foregone conclusion. It is Israel that is herding the Palestinian people into the ghetto and, in the case of Gaza earlier this year, bombing to smithereens those it had taken the precaution to lock in. If the festival does not do the right thing – morally, and commercially – then no self respecting artist or director should take part. Sense prevailed three years ago over this issue. I’m sure it will again.”