‘Friendship between India and Israel is strong’, says Israeli envoy Gilon

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid made a controversial remark on the movie Kashmir Files at the 2022 International Film Festival of India in Goa.

Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon slammed the IFFI Jury Head and apologized for the conduct of his countryman on Tuesday.

Taking to Twitter Gilon tweeted, “An open letter to #NadavLapid following his criticism of #KashmirFiles. It’s not in Hebrew because I wanted our Indian brothers and sisters to be able to understand. It is also relatively long so I’ll give you the bottom line first. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.”

Meanwhile, Gilon tweeted in a series and talked about the friendship between India and Israel and will survive the damage inflicted by him.

“The friendship between the people and the states of India and Israel is very strong and will survive the damage you have inflicted. As a human being I feel ashamed and want to apologize to our hosts for the bad manner in which we repaid them for their generosity and friendship,” Gilon said.

“My suggestion. As you vocally did in the past, feel free to use the liberty to sound your criticism of what you dislike in Israel but no need to reflect your frustration on other countries. I’m not sure that you have enough factual basis to make such comparisons. I know I don’t,” Gilon said.

Earlier on Monday, at the closing ceremony of the film festival IFFI Jury Head Nadav Lapid, called the film ‘Kashmir Files’ “propaganda, vulgar”.

“Our Indian friends brought @lioraz and @issacharoff from @FaudaOfficial in order to celebrate the love in #India towards #Fauda and #Israel. I suspect that this is maybe also one of the reasons they invited you as an Israeli and me as the ambassador of Israel,” Gilon said.

Talking about Naved Lapid’s remark Gilon said he has abused the Indian invitation to judge at IFFI Goa.

“I’m no film expert but I do know that it’s insensitive and presumptuous to speak about historic events before deeply studying them and which are an open wound in India because many of the involved are still around and still paying a price,” Gilon said.

“I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here,” Gilon said.

“From your interview to Ynet the connection you make between your criticism of #KashmirFiles and your dislike of what is happening in Israeli politics was quite evident,” the envoy Gilon said.

However, Gilon further stated, “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 boxes following your bravery and what implications it may have on the team under my responsibility.”