HOW DID LEBANESE MEDIA

COVER ZIAD DOUEIRI’S ISSUE?

Research by Nour Hilal Assi

Student ID 10116071

AL Maaref University

Instructor Mrs. Marwa Osman

Course: JDM 220 Reporting Practices

Table of Contacts

I. Abstract

II. Introduction

III. Literature Review

IV. Discussion (Content Analysis)

V. Evaluation

VI. Conclusion

VII. References

Abstract
This research is talking about Zaid’s life, when he had started, best of his work, awards he got...
Then briefly it will talk about the movie that made noise in Lebanon and in others country.
Focusing on how did the Lebanese media handle this issue. Where it was divided; a part that
considered Ziad is just doing his work and in art, there’s no limit, it doesn’t matter if he deals with
Israel or not. While, the other considered his work as a crime since he normalized with the enemy,
and law should judge him on his work. Also, it will show articles from the constitution about
normalizing.

Introduction

Ziad Doueiri (born in 1963) is a Lebanese-born cinematographer, film director, and writer. His
first feature film is West Beirut (1998) premieres at Cannes Director’s Fortnight. He is best known
for his award-winning film “West Beirut’’. At the age of 18, during the Lebanese civil war, Ziad
left Lebanon to study in the US. And he graduated from UC San Diego University. Now he lives in
France and works in Europe and US.

Doueiri first gained notice from his work under

Quentin Tarantino as a camera assistant for
movies that include Jackie Brown (film), From
Dusk till Dawn, Pulp Fiction, and Reservoir Dogs.
Doueiri worked between Los Angeles and Beirut
until not long, wherein 2011 he returned to work
at Beirut.

Some of his works:

• The Insult (2017) Ziad being the writer and

the director

• Baron (2016)

• The Attack (2012)

• Lila Says (2004)

• West Beirut (1998).

Ziad won 17 awards and had been nominated for 9 times. Some of his awards are AFI Fest (the
insult), Paris Biennale of Arab Cinema; International Critic’s Award in Toronto Film Festival. (West
Beirut), International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA); Istanbul International Film Festival (The
Attack).

Literature Review

A week after his newest film “The Insult”, Ziad

Doueiri was arrested at the airport, and his French
and Lebanese passports were confiscated. Doueiri
had been accused of visiting Israel without proper
authorization. Since 1955, it’s been illegal for
Lebanese nationals to visit or do business in Israel
— but parts of Doueiri last movie, “The Attack,”
were filmed in Tel Aviv. He said that before traveling to Tel Aviv, he sent a formal request to the
Lebanese government for permission to film in Israel, but claims he never heard back.

Arab world soured on “The Attack” once it was actually released. Lebanon ended up banning it
despite its earlier promise, as most of the other Arab countries did, because of its ties to Israel.
So, how did the Lebanese media handle this issue?

Firstly, MTV covered Ziad’s issue by talking that all of his previous films were estimated and yet,
he was arrested because of his prior movie “The Attack” since it was set in Israel even if it did not
show the Israeli state in a good light. MTV commented how It's horrifying to see how narrow-
minded we can be and how despicable our levels can sink when dealing with the people of our
country that help raise our voice on international levels, such as Doueiri, because of convoluted
measures that have no reflection whatsoever on reality: a person filming a movie in Israel does
not mean they are in bed with the enemy. However, they have no issue with any other foreigner
who's visited Israel to come into the country as long as their passport doesn't have a stamp. 1

However, MI Lebanon page spoke how Ziad’s issue made a big noise and how did people interact
with social media; campaigns were burning in rejection of what was happening and expression
of solidarity with Doueiri, where #Ziad_Doueiri was ranked first in Lebanon, where politicians,
journalists, intellectuals, and activists participated. Others considered that there was no
justification for visiting the occupied territories. 2

While, Future reported what Ziad defense lawyer said; he considered that Ziad was arrested
because there are people who are jealous of Ziad’s success, and because there are people who
want to discharge Lebanon from culture. Besides his last film “The Insult” had succeeded and it
achieved a lot of rewards. 3

In addition, LBCI during a video at “Kalam Al Nas” program, presented the history of Zaid; where
he had grown up, and where he had graduated and the works he had directed. Also, they talked
about his previous films as “West Beirut” that had a lot of honor, and “The Attack” that had been
filmed in Israel and it made a lot of noise. While his last film “The Insult”, Doueiri considered it
the closest film to him, where he experted it, lived it and wrote it with his wife. 4

AL Nahar newspaper talked how did people turn out to the opening of Doueiri’s new film “The
Insult” without caring to the released noise. Then they talk what was his film about and how it
had success in which it had been nominated for the best foreign film category in 2018. Also, it

1
stateofmind13.com. (2017, 9 11). “West Beirut” and “The Insult” Director Ziad Doueiri Arrested in
Beirut. Retrieved 11 28, 2017, from MTV:
http://mtv.com.lb/news/featured/740608/%E2%80%9Cwest_beirut%E2%80%9D_and_%E2%80
%9Cthe_insult%E2%80%9D_director_ziad_doueiri_arrested_in_beirut

ِ :‫القاض صقر‬
2
Nazzal, Mohammad. 2017. "‫أوقفوا دويري اآلن‬ ‫ي‬ »‫"»تجليطة‬. Al-Akhbar , 2017.
3
Future TV News. 2017. ‫ !هذا ما حصل مع المخرج زياد دويري‬Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaVRdtspJhc.
4
LBCI Lebanon. 2017. Kalam Ennas Jarrah Doueiri ‫تقرير من هو زياد دويري؟‬. Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Fc6sHK_Ec.
was not the first time Doueiri conducted the Lebanese problems where he had talked about it in
his previous film “West Beirut”. 5

Moreover, OTV covered how did the student of

USJ University refuse the visit of Ziad, pretexting of
refusing any kind of normalization. Ziad had
transmitted from a big director to a big normalizer.
However, they believed that Ziad intended to show
the reality of Lebanese society, in his own way
inside his movies, and whatever the case is,
Lebanese people will always be divided on any issue.6

Further, NBN covered how did doueiri get arrested, because of his old film “The Attack”, where
Ziad had commented that there are people jealous from him that are trying to stop the success
of his new film, “The Insult”. Additionally, Doueiri had gone to Israel and stayed there for almost
11 months, and he has worked with Israelian directors and actors, also he showed up on an Israeli
TV criticizing the Lebanese politics, and explaining to Israel why he had been interrogated. NBN
ended the report saying that if Ziad considered his work is helping Palestine issue, other consider
it normalization. 7 Moreover, it had covered how did the student of Saint-Joseph University

5
"‫" لزياد دويري برسم اللبنانيين فيلم يروي قصة مصالحة بعد الحرب األهلية‬23 ‫قضية رقم‬. (2017, 9 14). Retrieved from ‫النهار‬:
https://newspaper.annahar.com/article/661186-%D9%82%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-
%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85-23-%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF-
%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85-
%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-
%D9%81%D9%8A%D9

ّ ّ
6
tayyar.org. 2017. ‫زياد الدويري يوتر طّلب اليسوعية‬. Video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-
Z9ipyMiCw\.

7
NBN Lebanon. 2017. ‫ بي التطبيع مع العدو والفن المجرد‬.‫ !قضية المخرج زياد دويري تتفاعل‬Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umxZ4eRVCdw.
demonstrate against Ziad (they consider him normalizing with the Lebanese and Arab enemy
(Israel)).

Al Jadeed TV considered that Doueiri had done a crime by visiting Israel, he had worked with a
complete Israelian team. And Ziad own apologies for the Lebanese, or at least he should say that
he did something wrong, wherein law he should enter the jail. Anyway, when AL Jadeed reporter
tells Doueiri that according to the law you should enter jail where even you didn’t take a
permission to enter Israel you went there and filmed, Doueiri answered that he should be judged
as a cinematographer, not as a Politician. Moreover, Doueiri said that he hasn’t normalized with
the enemy, and from his birth, he cares about Palestinian case. Al Jadeed added that even Ziad
had stayed at Israel for 11 months, and work with Israelian people and had an interview with an
Israel TV channel he hasn’t normalized. Al Jadeed ended the report by saying that doueiri was
realized with no judgment with an Oscar of best director of normalization category.8

However, al Akhbar newspaper stands up next to Al- Jadeed,

where it considered the former is resisting alone against the
normalization in which most TV channels dealt with the
Doueiri issue as a normal issue. Al Jadeed was clear with her
position since normalization is normalization whether it’s in
politics or in cinema. Also, Al Jadeed reporter was the only
one who asked Doueiri questions about normalization,
which drove Doueiri mad and he offended the reporter
behind the camera. The rest channels were in silence or just
watching and others were cleaning the reputation of Doueiri

8
aljadeedonline. 2017. ‫الرفاع‬
‫ي‬ ‫ حسان‬- ‫صدمة زياد الدويري من تل أبيب إىل بيوت‬.
Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1SmB-Upm8s.
by highlighting on his new film “The Insult” and how it succeeded. “MTV is an example!” Al
Akhbar reported.9

Meanwhile, Layla al-Khatib wrote an article at Al Akhbar newspaper where basically she was
blaming Ziad for his late productions. She believed that his “Lebanese produced” movie “West
Beirut- 1998” didn’t have the chance to win or even participate in a film festival. So he resorted
to direct movies with “western productions” since he lacked financial resources, which gave him
the chance to win a lot of rewards in western festivals. Al-Khatib believed that such movies show
how divided our nations are and that we are not able to represent ourselves so we are
represented by others, and these others are representing our wrong image. 10

Talking about the legal orientation, the Lebanese Constitution Penal Code talked about the
enemy in a general way in article 285 state "Every Lebanese and every person in Lebanon who is
a national of the Arab States shall enter directly or indirectly, without the prior consent of the
Government of the enemy countries”. 11Also in «District of Israel» law, the first article stated:
"Any person, natural or juridical, is prohibited from holding, in person or by means of an
agreement with bodies or persons residing in Israel or belonging to it in their nationality, working
for its own interests or in its interest, when the subject matter of the agreement is commercial
transactions or financial transactions or any other transaction whatsoever It was his nature”. And
in article 7 it was written that: «Anyone who contravenes the provisions of Articles I and II shall

9
hawi, z. (2017, 9 12). al akhbar. Retrieved 12 26, 2017, from http://www.al-
akhbar.com/node/283149

10
‫ ليىل الخطيب‬,‫توما‬. 2017. alakhbar. 9 18. Accessed 12 27, 2017. http://www.al-
akhbar.com/node/283398.

11
‫البنان‬
‫ي‬ ‫قانون العقوبات‬. 1943. 3 1.
be liable to three to ten years of hard labor and a fine (...)». Additionally, article 328 stated: «The
fall of the sentence sentenced over time does not preclude hearing the request for retrial». 12

Simultaneously, Al- Akhbar newspaper talked about articles in the Lebanese Constitution which
are talking about the enemy and used in giving the judgment on Ziad. Where the judge Saker
Saker resorted to the (general) Penal Code, in which the word "Israel" was never mentioned
instead in the law of «District of Israel», where this case is about doueiri dealing with Israel,
where it states that he liable to three to ten years of hard labor and a fine, for anybody deals or
work with Israel Under any circumstance and even if the judge uses (general) Penal Code The
judge can "appeal" to the text of Article 328, which states: "The passing of the sentence
sentenced over time does not preclude hearing the request for retrial" then even the issue had
passed by time the retrial can open it again and give a fair and real judgment. 13

Discussion

As in all the issues that have the Lebanese people’s concern, in Ziad’s issue Lebanese were
separated in their opinion. Some supported Ziad and consider his work beneficial for Lebanese,
and others considered him a normalizer.

In this context, MTV was careless about the Palestine issue and how its danger to deal and work
with Israel. They considered that art has no limit
where you can do anything under the title of art.
Moreover, they blame Lebanese that were
against Ziad. He should be rewarded since he
raises up the name of his country. They consider
that working with them doesn’t mean that they

12
‫قانون مقاطعة ارسائيل‬. 1955. 6 23.

ِ :‫القاض صقر‬
Nazzal, Mohammad. 2017. "‫أوقفوا دويري اآلن‬ »‫"»تجليطة‬. Al-Akhbar , 2017.
13
‫ي‬
are with them. However, Future had shown everything that gives a good image about Ziad, like
he hasn’t made anything wrong, then it lighted on his new film. In addition, MI Lebanon sowed
mostly the opinion of people who are with Ziad doueiri and ignore completely the other opinion.
Also, LBCI showed Ziad as a champion in which they considered his films as a great work for
Lebanon. As well as Al Nahar, they haven’t at all talked about normalization! They only covered
his new film which was suspicious.

As for the NBN, they lighted on how Ziad dealt and worked with Israel, and that some people
consider it as a normal attitude and others consider it normalizing. And, OTV described that with
any issue Lebanese people will continually be divided whatever the case is. In these two channels,
the issue wasn’t lightened as it should be.

On the other hand, Al Jadeed had another opinion where she was the only channel that really
stood up against normalization, (as AL Akhbar newspaper mentioned). They mentioned that what
he did is a crime and he owns apologize to Lebanese. Also, when you watch the video when Ziad
was released you notice that only Al Jadeed reporter was brave and told him that he hasn’t got
a permission to go to Israel. He stood against him and told him that laws consider this a
normalization, which made Ziad really angry and said: “who told you that I've normalized”.
Additionally, under air, he insulted Al Jadeed reporter. I 've really liked the way they ended up
the report, where they talked how many times he went to Israel, dealt, and worked with them.
Standing next to Al Jadeed came AL Akbar newspaper that supported the latter since it was the
only channel that talked clearly that he had normalized, while other had just talked about his
new film, they were hiding his crime by emphasizing on the rewards and appreciations he took
on his new film. Furthermore, Layla al-Khatib, in her article at al Akhbar newspaper, drew
attention to the lack of Lebanese production (cinematic) since when he dealt with foreign
production had successes. Her article was really rich with a good analysis in which she believed
that Ziad refused to western productions since the local ones didn’t add much to his cinematic
experience and reputation in which he won more awards with the latter option. She also gave a
lot of solutions for the government and others to do in order to avoid such a conflict. Layla was
against Ziad and as some she was surprised by his action but I thought that she was blaming him
as a result of her surprise and didn’t focus on the Palestinian issue.

However, by following the law, Zaid should be judged according to «District of Israel» law where
it’s clear that the issue is that Ziad is dealing with Israel; not with the general penal code. Even if
the judge uses the general law and even if the years of judgment end, the trial can ask for a
restoration of the judge. Also, Ziad hasn’t stopped dealing with Israel, he is still connecting with
them in meetings, celebrations, and honors!!

Evaluation
To say that we are going to take Ziad’s claim that he is not normalizing, I am really wondering
what the real meaning of this term is! If going to Israel for months and dealing with Zionists
actors, and working with them, eating with them, living with them isn’t normalization, then what
is normalization? Fishy huh!!

Nevertheless, some Lebanese channels covered Ziad’s issue as he had done a fascinating work,
and he is transmitting the reality of Lebanese society, concentrating on all positive things about
him, ignoring that he was dealing with the enemy! Others with the same point of view mentioned
that he was arrested and released out, then they talked about his new film and how it is being
rewarded in different countries. With the counter point of view, others showed how Doueiri
normalized with our enemy.

Then what is really happening? Did Lebanese forget their identity? Did they ignore the Palestine
issue? Are they still considering Israel as an enemy? Or they are unable to recognize who is their
enemy?

Yet, most of the Lebanese media displayed opinions which were with Zaid, without mentioning
the other side, where when you see the Lebanese channels you will think that Zaid hasn’t really
done something wrong (they show that under the title of art you can do anything even if it needs
to go and work with your enemy!), but when you see the other side which was a lot, it wasn’t
just in Lebanon also outside in Arabic world, there were many campaigns organized against Ziad,
and his films were refused to be displayed at many Arabic worlds. One of the most known
campaign in this term was “Boycott Campaign”
which an account on social media that lightened
the issue of boycotting Israel and stressed on Ziad’s
issue by certain hashtags and drives. Beside,
Doueiri hasn’t received too much influence from
“West Beirut” where he was dealing with a
Lebanese production, and that maybe what makes
him deal with foreign production, as well as most
of the Lebanese directors do. But this shouldn’t be a cause or justification to represent cultures
which are against ours. I’m not against association with an external production, but I am
definitely against showing or representing west civilization, where we have a deficiency in
showing our Arabic identity, we should present it without letting the western culture to be
dominant. At the same time, there’s slovenliness from the polity since it waited too long (from
2012 to 2017) to judge Doueiri for his film “The Attack”, and he has been visiting Lebanon before
emission of his new film. Yet, the judge used the law that saved Ziad from punishment, while if
he used the distract Israel law Ziad will definitely be pushed for dealing with Israel.

Conclusion

At the end, in this country, everybody sees

cases in his own way, and of course with a
political touch as we are used to that in
Lebanon. I can’t deny that Zaid hasn’t done a
good work in cinema for Lebanese people to
a certain extent taking into consideration the
cinematography, but the techniques he used
was the problem and the content and
symbols used through certain scenes and actions in the films is what we should blame. My
questions to Zaid is why he chooses to deal with the enemy, why he hasn’t chosen someone else?
Why he chose to reflect our dividing culture?

At the same time, the whole blame isn’t just on Ziad but also on the country that degrades in
dealing at an issue not just with this one, also the judicial system in Lebanon biased due pressure
caused by Political Links.

Finally, the normalization issue is increasing to an extent that it is becoming normal for others for
as well as for Arabic world. Have we forgot who the enemy is? What is Israel and what have they
done and the massacres they’ve done for centuries? Will they let the blood thousands of Martyrs
go rest? Or did they forget the Palestine issue and forget their Arabic and culture?
Reference

1. stateofmind13.com. (2017, 9 11). “West Beirut” and “The Insult” Director Ziad Doueiri
Arrested in Beirut. Retrieved 11 28, 2017, from MTV:
http://mtv.com.lb/news/featured/740608/%E2%80%9Cwest_beirut%E2%80%9D_and_
%E2%80%9Cthe_insult%E2%80%9D_director_ziad_doueiri_arrested_in_beirut

ِ :‫القاض صقر‬
2. Nazzal, Mohammad. 2017. "‫أوقفوا دويري اآلن‬ ‫ي‬ »‫"»تجليطة‬. Al-Akhbar , 2017.

3. Future TV News. 2017. ‫ !هذا ما حصل مع المخرج زياد دويري‬Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaVRdtspJhc.
4. LBCI Lebanon. 2017. Kalam Ennas Jarrah Doueiri ‫تقرير من هو زياد دويري؟‬. Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Fc6sHK_Ec.

5. "‫" لزياد دويري برسم اللبنانيين فيلم يروي قصة مصالحة بعد الحرب األهلية‬23 ‫قضية رقم‬. (2017, 9 14).
Retrieved from ‫النهار‬: https://newspaper.annahar.com/article/661186-
%D9%82%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85-23-
%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF-
%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85-
%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%8
6-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9

ّ ّ
6. tayyar.org. 2017. ‫زياد الدويري يوتر طّلب اليسوعية‬.
Video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Z9ipyMiCw\.

7. NBN Lebanon. 2017. ‫ بي التطبيع مع العدو والفن المجرد‬.‫ !قضية المخرج زياد دويري تتفاعل‬Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umxZ4eRVCdw.
8. aljadeedonline. 2017. ‫الرفاع‬
‫ي‬ ‫ حسان‬- ‫صدمة زياد الدويري من تل أبيب إىل بيوت‬.
Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1SmB-Upm8s.
9. hawi, z. (2017, 9 12). al akhbar. Retrieved 12 26, 2017, from http://www.al-
akhbar.com/node/283149

10. ‫ ليىل الخطيب‬,‫توما‬. 2017. alakhbar. 9 18. Accessed 12 27, 2017. http://www.al-
akhbar.com/node/283398.

11. ‫البنان‬
‫ي‬ ‫قانون العقوبات‬. 1943. 3 1.

12. ‫قانون مقاطعة ارسائيل‬. 1955. 6 23.

ِ :‫القاض صقر‬
13. Nazzal, Mohammad. 2017. "‫أوقفوا دويري اآلن‬ ‫ي‬ »‫"»تجليطة‬. Al-Akhbar , 2017.